Telkomsel SIM Cards and eSIM for Tourists 2024

Telkomsel is one of the largest network carriers in Indonesia, offering reliable coverage across the country with competitive SIM plans and fast 4G/5G networks. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Telkomsel SIM cards and eSIM: how and where to buy, the best plans, alternatives, and much more.

I. Overview about Telkomsel – What You Need to Know

Telkomsel is currently Indonesia’s largest mobile network carrier which sells traditional sim cards in Indonesia, with over 170 million users. Below are some key facts about Telkomsel:

• Established: 1995
• Full name: PT Telekomunikasi Selular. 
• Types of services: prepaid SIM cards, postpaid phone plans, Internet access on cell phones, digital business (Digital Advertising, Digital Lifestyle, Internet of Things, MyTelkomsel app, Telkomsel Virtual Assistant, GraPARI, etc.)
• Number of subscribers: Over 170 million
• Coverage: Most parts of Indonesia. Telkomsel had over 160,000 network towers (Base Transceiver Stations – BTS) nationwide as of 2018.
• Customer support: 24-hour call center, MyGraPARI – self-service machine, 24/7 support in Indonesian and English languages via phone, chat, social media, and email.

II. Telkomsel coverage in Indonesia

Telkomsel has the best network coverage across Indonesia. Tourists should expect to have an Internet or calling connection without many disruptions.

• Telkomsel has extensive coverage on Java, Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, etc. This covers most of Indonesia’s major population centers.
• In cities and large towns, Telkomsel 4G/LTE networks are available in most areas of big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, and Medan. 
• In more remote rural areas, Telkomsel is still expanding its 3G and 4G networks. Coverage is good along major highways but can be sporadic in smaller villages.

III. Telkomsel Speed in Indonesia

We can see that Telkomsel delivers the fastest download and upload speeds in Indonesia.

• Average download speed: 26.1Mbps (Opensignal, Dec 2023)
• Average upload speed: 11.1Mbps
• Consistent quality: 61.7% – 2nd place (led by Indosat – 64.8%)

In summary, Telkomsel users can enjoy the quickest data speeds whether they are downloading or uploading content on their mobile devices. 

V. Top Telkomsel SIM cards for Tourists

Telkomsel provides tourists to Indonesia with the plan called “Tourist Prepaid Card”:

• 25GB data quote + 25-minute voice call, valid for 30 days

What to prepare:

• Unlocked phone (your phone is not locked on a particular provider and allows to use Telkomsel’s network)
• A photo of your passport

Apart from using a Telkomsel SIM card for, you can consider buying a Telkomsel eSIM. However, it only works if you have an eSIM-supported mobile device and want to enjoy the flexibility and convenience of eSIM technology. We will introduce more about eSIM in the next part.

IV. Does Telkomsel Indonesia Have eSIM?

Yes, Telkomsel offers Tourist Prepaid eSIM that allows foreign visitors to access the Telkomsel network on their devices without a physical SIM card. Prepaid eSIM brings you numerous benefits such as:

• Super convenient: No need to insert or remove a physical SIM
• Dual SIM feature: Utilize your existing SIM and local SIM together
• No store visit needed
• Simple online download and activation

VI. Where can you buy a Telkomsel SIM cards and eSIM?

There are many places to purchase Telkomsel SIM cards and eSIM for your trip in Indonesia.

1. Where to buy Telkomsel SIM for Indonesia

Telkomsel SIM cards can be bought at:

• Telkomsel stores: Telkomsel official stores are available in cities and towns across Indonesia (GraPARI Central Park; GraPARI Mall Bali Galeria Kuta;…)

• Major airports: Most major airports in Indonesia have carrier kiosks or convenience stores that sell Telkomsel SIMs. You can buy Telkomsel SIM cards at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport – Telkomsel Partner Outlet & GraPARI, Terminal 3, Ground Floor; Telkomsel Booth – International Arrival Terminal, Bali International Airport; Telkomsel RoaMAX Booth Terminal 3 Floor 2, International Departure, Jakarta International Airport; etc.

• Online: You can order Telkomsel SIM cards online and then the operator will deliver them to your address. You can also order tourist SIM and then collect it at pick-up points. Telkomsel SIM pick-up locations are available in Bali and Mandalika Lombok areas.
• City convenience stores: Convenience stores in Indonesia sell Telkomsel SIM cards at reasonable prices.

2. Where to buy Indonesia Telkomsel eSIM?

Here are several ways to get a Telkomsel eSIM in Indonesia:

• Online via Telkomsel’s website: Visit the Telkomsel website and purchase an eSIM plan online. You will receive activation details via email which can be completed on your mobile device.
• Telkomsel stores: Telkomsel Tourist Prepaid eSIM is available at GraPARI, Telkomsel’s booth or outlets in Jakarta, Bali, and Batam.

• MyTelkomsel App: Tourists can buy Telkomsel eSIM plan via the MyTelkomsel App or UMB *363#.

VII. A Better Alternative to Telkomsel SIM cards – Indonesia eSIM

To get a Telkomsel eSIM, tourists can buy from Telkomsel or a trusted third-party online provider like GIGAGO. However, Gigago does not currently provide eSIM plan options from Telkomsel due to the high pricing, which does not align with Gigago’s commitment to value and price.

Instead, Gigago offers eSIM packages from other major mobile network carriers in Indonesia such as XL Axiata and Indosat. Tourists using these plans can connect to their widespread networks and enjoy high-speed data at affordable rates.

Gigago delivers a wide selection of Indonesia eSIM plans for tourists, starting at 1GB a day for 05 days with only $2.90 . What is incredible about Gigago’s Indonesia eSIM is that the packages’ prices are diverse, ranging between $2.90 – $81.50 . Thus, regardless of how long your Indonesia trip is and how much GB of data you use, Gigago always has the best eSIM plan for you.

VIII. How to Top Up Telkomsel Indonesia SIM/ eSIM

Here is the guide on how to top up Telkomsel SIM/ eSIM:

Top up via MyTelkomsel app: 

• Download/ open MyTelkomsel
• Select “Top up”
• Choose the denomination you want to get
• Opt for your payment method

Top up at MyGraPARI:

• MyGraPARI, a self-service machine, can be found at many locations across Indonesia.
• Enter your Telkomsel number
• Choose the amount of credit you want
• Choose payment method (Cash/ credit or debit card)
• Receive confirmation

IX. FAQs about Telkomsel SIM cards and eSIM in Indonesia

X. Conclusion

To sum up, whether you get a regular SIM card or eSIM, Telkomsel provides tourists with affordable and easy-to-use mobile data options while traveling around Indonesia. Their large network coverage means you can stay connected from the beaches of Bali to remote jungles. Telkomsel SIM cards are widely available at airports and many locations in cities. You may buy eSIM for Indonesia from trusted providers like Gigago. No matter where you go, a Telkomsel plan ensures reliable Internet access so you can enjoy a wonderful trip in Indonesia.