Bali is a province of Indonesia. The national framework in id/internet.md applies [1]. This page covers practical aspects specific to getting online in Bali.
Mobile connectivity in practice
All three Indonesian operators (Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Indosat) work in Bali. The practical differences:
- Telkomsel: best overall coverage in Bali, including Ubud, Amed, and North Bali (Singaraja, Lovina). Essential if you travel outside South Bali regularly. Most expensive [2].
- XL Axiata: good coverage in South Bali (Canggu, Seminyak, Sanur, Jimbaran, Uluwatu). Weak or no signal in parts of Ubud and most of East/North Bali. Best value for data-heavy use [3].
- Indosat: similar coverage to XL, good in South Bali. Somewhat better in Ubud than XL [4].
Recommendation: Telkomsel for those who travel around Bali frequently; XL or Indosat for those who stay in South Bali.
SIM cards for expats
- Prepaid: standard. Available at any Telkomsel/XL/Indosat counter (there are dozens in South Bali). You need a passport and visa.
- Postpaid: available with KITAS/KITAP. Useful for direct debit billing.
- eSIM: all three operators support it. Buy prepaid eSIM online (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad) for short stays. Local postpaid eSIM requires KITAS and in-person registration.
- Bali-specific: many expats maintain a Telkomsel prepaid SIM for voice (Telkomsel has the best voice coverage) and an Indosat or XL SIM for data.
Broadband internet: the Bali reality
Fixed broadband in Bali is less reliable than the national spec sheets suggest. Key points:
- IndiHome (Telkom): available in most urban areas of South Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Jimbaran) and Ubud. Speeds 20-100 Mbps. Reliability: variable. Service restoration after an outage can take 3-10 days in Bali (vs 1-2 days in Jakarta). Fibre cuts from road works are common.
- MyRepublic: available in selected villa complexes/condos in Canggu and Seminyak. Faster than IndiHome (100-300 Mbps). More reliable service. Check if your building is covered before renting.
- CBN: fibre in Canggu and Sanur. Good reliability.
- Biznet: fibre in selected areas of South Bali. Growing coverage. Known for good reliability and customer service.
- First Media: limited presence in Bali.
- Starlink: increasingly popular as primary internet in Bali, particularly in Canggu and Uluwatu where fibre coverage is patchy. Monthly subscription roughly 750,000 IDR + hardware cost. Typical speeds 100-200 Mbps.
Coverage reality check
- South Bali (Kuta to Uluwatu): good Telkomsel 4G, adequate XL/Indosat. Most villas have some form of fibre.
- Canggu: fibre coverage is patchy: some streets have IndiHome, some don't. Starlink is common as primary or backup. Mobile data is essential.
- Ubud: reasonable Telkomsel 4G. IndiHome is available in central Ubud. Patchy in outlying rice-field areas.
- East Bali (Amed, Candidasa): Telkomsel 4G only. No fixed fibre. Starlink is the only practical option for primary internet.
- North Bali (Lovina, Singaraja): Telkomsel 4G with frequent dropouts. Limited broadband.
- Nusa Lembongan / Penida: 4G only (Telkomsel or XL). Variable speeds. No fixed broadband.
Coworking spaces
Bali has many coworking spaces with business-grade internet (backup fibre + Starlink):
- Outpost (Canggu, Ubud): 50+ Mbps, stable connection, multiple locations.
- Dojo Bali (Canggu): popular with digital nomads, fast internet, generator backup.
- Tribal (Canggu): co-living + coworking, good internet.
- Kumpul (Canggu): fast, well-regarded, day passes 50,000-100,000 IDR.
- Hubud (Ubud): long-standing coworking space. Good internet, community feel.
Practical tips
- Power outages: more common in Bali than in Jakarta. Use a UPS for the fibre router and Starlink in WFH setups.
- Backup plan: nearly every remote-working expat in Bali has at least one backup connection (dual SIM with separate operators, or Starlink). Avoid depending on a single IndiHome line.
- SIM top-up: top up at any minimarket (Alfamart, Indomaret, Circle K), operator store, or via GoPay/OVO.
- VPN: recommended for accessing geo-restricted content and banking. VPNs are legal in Indonesia.
This page is indicative. Confirm current packages and coverage directly with the operator.