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Which SIM card or eSIM should you get for Indonesia?

Two good options: an eSIM installed before you leave, which works as soon as you land, or a tourist SIM card from a local network, bought at the airport or in a shop, for 150,000 to 300,000 IDR (US$8 to US$17) depending on the data allowance. Either way, don't rely on your home plan: international roaming in Indonesia is expensive with most Australian, UK and US carriers.

Choosing the network matters more than elsewhere, because the country is huge:

Telkomsel: the widest network, and the only one with decent coverage on many eastern islands (Flores, Sumba, Maluku, Papua) and at sea near the coast. The default choice for a varied itinerary.
XL Axiata and Indosat: slightly cheaper, very good in Java, Bali and the big cities, weaker once you head off the main routes.

For an eSIM, first check that your phone is compatible and unlocked, then look at which Indonesian network it uses: an eSIM running on Telkomsel is the better bet off the beaten track.

For a tourist SIM, here's the drill:

show your passport: the card is registered in your name in the shop or at the airport counter;
the seller also registers your phone on the network (your IMEI, the device's ID number) for free, for 90 days;
the data plan usually lasts 30 days and can be topped up at convenience stores (Indomaret, Alfamart) or in the network's app.

If you stay longer than 90 days, the phone must be registered with customs and a tax applies, otherwise it loses the local network: this only matters for very long stays.

Wi-Fi is everywhere in hotels and cafés in tourist areas, often slow elsewhere. On some islands (Togian, Banda, villages in Papua), there's sometimes no Wi-Fi or mobile signal at all.

Verdict: an eSIM installed before you go for a short trip or if you want to be connected from the moment you land; a Telkomsel tourist SIM for a long trip or a route through eastern Indonesia.

Tip: install and activate your eSIM BEFORE you leave, at home on Wi-Fi: when you land, you can book your Grab and message home without hunting for a counter or a signal.

Information checked in November 2026. Check before you travel.

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Which SIM card or eSIM should you get for Indonesia?

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