Summary
Travelers jaunting through Indonesia don’t need to leave their iPhones behind; the country is surprisingly well-connected to a wide-ranging GSM network.
You can even pick up cellphone signals in surprisingly out-of-the-way places like Banten Lama and the Komodo National Park; your Facebook friends and Instagram followers will be able to keep up with your adventures as you go.
Buying a local SIM card is a far better option than roaming in the network using your own phone plan. The latter can be ruinously expensive; the former is highly convenient and surprisingly affordable. If you’re looking for informative resources on using a prepaid SIM in the region, consider other insights available online.
If the GSM standard is something you’re not familiar with, there are numerous guides available that can assist you in understanding how to stay connected while traveling abroad.
There are over a dozen local GSM providers in Indonesia, but Telkomsel strikes the ideal balance between low cost, good connection, and widespread network coverage. It’s a recommended choice for anyone exploring tourist destinations like Bali and Yogyakarta.
Buying the SIMPati Prepaid GSM Card and Topping Up
Using a Telkomsel SIMPati Prepaid Card assumes you’ve entered Indonesia with your own GSM cellphone or smartphone. (Not all US phones are compatible with Southeast Asian GSM networks, mind you.)
Where to buy: You can purchase a prepaid card immediately upon entering the country; kiosks at the arrival area of most Indonesian airports sell various brands of GSM prepaid cards. You can even buy SIM cards or additional call credits from small warung (streetside eateries) and convenience stores.
The SIM card comes in a thick plastic card wrapped in a paper envelope; it can be detached for use in your phone. SIM cards are designed to fit into any compatible cellphone, down to the micro-SIM slots on late-model iPhones.
Loading prepaid credits: When you buy a Telkomsel SIMPati prepaid SIM, it’s advisable to purchase additional call credits simultaneously, which come in a separate scratch card. The more you plan to surf while in Indonesia, the more call credits you should consider buying.
Instructions for reloading are available primarily in Bahasa Indonesia. If you need assistance, the SIM card seller can help load the call credits for you.
Once the credits are loaded, you can use the phone to call and text as much as you desire. You can even make international calls; simply dial 01017 plus the overseas number to avail of a reduced rate (calling the U.S. costs IDR 360, or about 3 US cents a minute).
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Surfing on the Internet with SIMPati
Even with additional credits loaded in, your connection isn’t quite ready to surf just yet. You will need to purchase “flash,” or blocks of usable data per megabyte, which will be deducted from your prepaid balance.
To purchase “flash,” use your existing credits by dialing *363# and sending it as a service command on your GSM phone. This menu allows you to select the size of “flash” you want to purchase; typically, 5 gigabytes is sufficient for two weeks of travel!
Rates can change without notice, and they may vary from location to location (they tend to be cheaper in Sumatra, Java and Bali, becoming progressively more expensive as you move east to Indonesia’s outlying territories). For current information on tariffs, visit Telkomsel’s official site.
Checking and Reloading Telkomsel SIMPati Call/Internet Credits
To check how much prepaid credit you have left, Telkomsel provides two different numbers: one for call credits and the other for Internet (or “flash”) credits.
Call credits: Dial *888# and send it as a service command on your GSM phone. This action will enable a pop-up window showing your remaining balance in Indonesian rupiah.
To replenish your call credits, purchase cards at your nearest convenience store and follow the instructions to top up; you can also ask the seller to assist in loading the additional credits for you.
Internet credits: Dial *889# and send it as a service command on your GSM phone. This will enable a pop-up window displaying how many MB you have left. To replenish this, refer to the earlier section, “Surfing on the Internet with SIMPati.”
The Lowdown on the SIMPati Prepaid SIM Card
Cheap international calls, strong phone and text coverage, alongside affordable and relatively swift Internet browsing make Telkomsel a prime choice for travelers throughout Bali and the rest of Indonesia.
Telkomsel is well-established in Indonesia; in Bali, connectivity is generally available with only occasional dead spots in remote areas or the open seas (those selfies of you climbing Anak Krakatau will have to wait until you return to your hotel room). Individual experiences may vary based on specific locations and the type of devices used.
