Indonesia forum

I'm still a bit bemused by Indonesian sim cards...there are loads of different ones and getting a shop assistant to explain why one is better than another is quite difficult. Often the same cards are wildly different prices just because of the phone number you get... some numbers are luckier than others. And although the shop assistant may tell you that such and such a card covers "everywhere" in Indonesia, that isn't necessarily the case. In the Bandas for example, Telekomsel works in Bandaneira. On nearby Pulau Ai only XL works (a bit... next to the pier.. in the evenings...sometimes). In other places I've been only Indosat works. In other places there is no phone signal at all.

Probably your best bet would be to get a Telkomsel card (Kartu As or Simpati) as that has the widest coverage in Indonesia.

Sim cards are pretty cheap...just a dollar or two. If you find yourself in an area where that doesn't work just buy a different card that does.

You'll need a special card if you want internet access on your phone or laptop (using a USB modem). Speeds are pretty slow I believe and it's more expensive than an ordinary phone card so I didn't bother getting one. Somtam would know stuff like that. He lives there and he's IT literate whereas I'm definitely not!

I'm on the Gili T at the moment (so snack bang in the middle of a euro-tourist expressway) and finding it very patchy (using a telkomsel simpati sim in an iPhone). Connection swings between no signal at all to edge to 3G over a matter of minutes in the sane spot. Very annoying. But then coverage was good from Lembar up to boats for Gilis.

What trying to say is even in touristed areas coverage can be very variable, though there us plenty of wifi in cafes etc which helps to mitigate the problem.

Will you be visiting the "other" Gilis off Lombok by any chance Somtam? Gili Gede and Nanggu of the south west coast. Looks easy enough to get to them on the map. I meant to go and have a look to see what they were like last time I was on Bali but didn't.

Is there anyone out there who is in, or has just come back from, Flores/Sumba and Malucus? Would be grateful for any suggestions, tips and up to the minute information!

Wow! I've just bookmarked your blog as a favourite Theodora. Thanks so much for posting a link to it. That kind of info on off the beaten track Indonesia is pure gold. Keep on rocking girl and welcome to travelfish.

Whereabouts are you going in the Malukus zicodali? I was in the Bandas a few months ago.

Thanks, both!

Travelling with a nine year old, now ten, is amazing fun, to be honest with you. Mind you, he's relatively robust -- we've always travelled independently, and he'd been to a lot of relatively unusual places before we started travelling.

It's a good age, because he's independent and sensible and LONG past the wailing/wiping stage but the adolescent hormone surge has yet to kick in. Plus, he's always been an easygoing individual.

Jealous you got to Sumba. I'm sad we missed that. We were on a visa rush to get to Timor Leste, so missed it. Be fascinated to see how many changes you find. Bali, I know, will be beyond all recognition -- I've met a bunch of shellshocked folk who were here even 10 or 15 years ago and can't believe how much it's changed.

Flores now also has a tourist infrastructure in places. Be really interested to hear what you make of Sumbawa.

I personally went with Telkomsel simpati as I was told it had the widest coverage. Good to patchy coverage on the Gili's,good coverage Central Lombok, almost no coverage in South Lombok Kuta area. So all up pretty frustrating. Basically just put the phone away didn't worry or need,but for people that rely on it for work,sick relatives,families etc would find it very frustrating.

p.s. Somtam, you finally made it to the Gilis must be busy with all the Euro's down there this time of year. Also thanks for buying me a few beers when in Sanur much appreciated!!

Mobile internet works throughout Indonesia, but is obviously more reliable in higher density areas. My experience has been that in Bali I can get 3G coverage almost everywhere. Java is a very similar situation.

Outside of these two islands, internet can sometimes be with edge instead of 3G, but it is still usable. A friend of mine lived 1 hour from Ambon for 6 months and had mobile internet, but it really only worked well early in the morning or late at night. That's pretty normal for Indonesia.

You can use the same sim card for your phone as for mobile internet. If you don't already have a USB modem, you can buy them in Indo for about $25. If internet is really important to you, just buy a bunch of sims (Rp5,000) from different companies and try different ones as you travel around. As a general rule, simpati is the best and most expensive. But it doesn't mean it's good...

Tri (3) are very very cheap and I use it with success in cities. Outside of cities, it reverts to edge and is a bit patchy - plenty of black spots. XL has a poor reputation and IM3 is the choice for people looking for a balance of value and coverage. I've tried them all and simpati is the best.

I think the bottom line is that coverage is very unpredictable, unreliable and quite often but not always slow. Definitely get simpati, a usb modem and hope for the best!