eSIMs Are Changing The Way Bali Tourists Navigate Island Life Digitally

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Once upon a time, tourists visiting Bali would have to simply write a postcard home if they wanted to make contact with loved ones abroad; then came the costly international phone calls, followed by tiny internet cafes to send emails via a dial-up connection.

When WiFi became more widely available on the island, tourists were able to stay connected to life back home 24/7 throughout their time away, and as the rollout of 4G has improved mobile connectivity further, tourists are now rarely disconnected.

Still, for many international tourists visiting Bali, the cost of international roaming fees or international travel data packages is high.

Local networks like Telkomsel offer super affordable temporary tourist SIM cards and data packages, but even now, many tourists don’t realize how simple the process can be. 

In the last couple of years, eSIMs have made a huge impact on the travel space, making it easier than ever for tourists to stay connected and break free from the hassle of switching SIM cards, adjusting network settings, and even running out of data. 

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One new global eSIM network provider, Truely, is making it super simple for tourists to stay connected in Indonesia and around the world. New to the scene, Truley has just secured USD 3.5 million in funding to bring its Truely Switchless™ eSIM to the world’s hottest destinations, such as Bali.

With packages available for over 200 specific countries and for every inhabited region in the world, Truley has created connection solutions for every kind of travel, whether a full-time digital nomad, holidaymakers, business travelers, or expats who are finding it hard to remain connected on local network providers due to visa restrictions and mobile contracts. 

As more and more eSIM providers enter the marketplace, Bali-bound tourists should shop around to find the best deal based on their travel plans and data needs. 

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Truley, like most eSIM providers only focuses on data packages, and these deals packages do not include calls or SMS. Instead, calls and SMS would have be completed through the original SIM card in the phone or an actual local SIM card.

For those traveling internationally to Bali who do not have an international roaming call and SMS package available from their home provider, the Tourism SIM from Telkomsel is a decent option.

The standard package for the Telkomsel SIM includes 25GB of data and 25 minutes of call time. The Telkomsel Tourism SIM can be purchased at Bali Airport upon arrival or arranged ahead of time for pick up at the counter at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airpot for a hassle-free experience. 

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Other digital networks, such as Airalo, have been adopted by nomads as the go-to eSIM provider worldwide.

The Bali Sun Premium subscribers have access to a discounted rate as part of the monthly package, providing great value for every traveler. 

Bali and Indonesia are more broadly committed to leveling up their digital infrastructure to help improve the economy, benefit the lives of citizens and residents, and make the region more appealing to international investors and tourists.

Back in February, the Indonesian Minister for Communication and Information, Budi Arie Setiadi, revealed the Indonesia Digital 2045 Vision, which included increasing connectivity and internet speeds in the next 20 years. 

Minister Setiadi announced, “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.”

The increased internet speed is set to help attract more digital nomads and tech entrepreneurs to Bali and provinces around the country.

The government has also issued more resources to the rollout of 4G and 5G nationwide to help keep residents and tourists better connected every moment of the day, wherever life may take them.