Connectivity Boosted For Digital Nomads In Bali’s Ubud 

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Bali is one of the world’s leading distal nomad hubs.

With online and remote workers from all over the globe setting up bases on the island, leaders have become increasingly aware of the need to improve connectivity infrastructure.

Digital connectivity in Bali’s Ubud has just become easier and speedier for digital nomads, tourists, and local residents. 

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson, a cellular operating company, has just unveiled a huge new transmitter tower in the middle of the world-famous Sacred Monkey Forest.

The Head of Technology for Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson, Yose Navirianto, spoke with reporters at the opening of the new base transceiver station. He confirmed that the tower was deliberately painted green to be camouflaged into the surrounding environment. 

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Navirianto said, “Our tower in Monkey Forest is part of the Padangtegal Traditional Village area, so the traditional village can use its signal in addition to strengthening the village community, as well as tourism.”

The tower, which stands at 55m in height, was placed within the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest after a planning analysis found that the site had the best potential for reach, as well as being a central location within the business and residential zones of Ubud itself. 

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Navirianto said, “Apart from connecting communities around the tower, this is also to improve service and network quality for foreign and domestic tourists who want to continue to be connected with their families from afar.”

He confirmed that the tower has a permanent generator installed so that in the event of a power outage, the signal and connectivity will not be affected. 

Navirianto also told reporters that despite the tower being located in the center of the Sacred Monkey Forest, home to hundreds of macaques, there has been no proof shown to Indosat that the presence of the tower causes any disturbance to the animals. 

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He outlines that the base transceiver station will help Indosat reach its targets of expanding cellular network coverage across the province of Bali.

Already, Bali is one of the best-connected provinces in all of Indonesia, with an internet network coverage of 85%, which is above the national average of 79%. The population coverage of network access in Bali is 97%. 

Areas like Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu all have reliable internet connections and cellular coverage, offering tourists and digital nomads workable internet speeds.

However, areas like Nusa Penida are still considered to be ‘dark zones.’ This is an issue that communications companies are working to resolve in partnership with the government.

There are many communities and areas within Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan that do not have internet access and have limited cellular network coverage, too.

During the World Water Conference, Elon Musk issued Starlink devices to a number of public service providers in Bali, including medical clinics in Nusa Penida, to ensure that vital operations were no longer limited by connectivity issues. 

Digital nomads planning to visit Bali should be aware that connectivity on the main island of Bali, in the leading resort areas, and the city of Denpasar, is far more reliable than in areas like Nusa Penida.

There is a mission to increase internet speeds to help boost tourism, business development, and communication throughout Indonesia. 

Back in February 2024, the Indonesian Minister for Communication and Information, Budi Arie Setiadi, held a press conference to discuss his vision for “Indonesia Digital 2045’. 

Minster Setiadi revealed, “Indonesia’s internet speed is still low. We are only at 24.9 Mbps. We are targeting the Digital Indonesian Vision to be 765 Mbps by 2045 so that in the next 21 years, we have to jump 30 times.”

Indonesia has made it easier for international visitors to conduct digital nomad activities in Bali and across the country by creating a series of new visa categories that can be applied for online without the need to attend an embassy prior to arrival.