Settle Asia

Bali internet guide

Verified 2026-05-12

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.

Sources

  1. Settle Asia, Indonesia internet page
  2. Telkomsel
  3. XL Axiata
  4. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison