About Telkomsel: Indonesia's Mobile Networks, Rules and IMEI Explained (2026)
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📖 17 min read · By the Balitel team, Kuta, Bali · Reviewed by Sheila Theodora
The 30-Second Answer
Indonesia has three mobile networks. Telkomsel has 153.5 million lines, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison 93.4 million, and XLSmart 69.4 million (June 2026). Every SIM brand you see in a shop runs on one of these three.
Telkomsel is the biggest, and the Indonesian state controls it. The government owns 52.09% of Telkom Indonesia, and Telkom owns 69.9% of Telkomsel. Singapore's Singtel owns the other 30.1%.
To use a local Indonesian SIM or eSIM, two things get registered: you (your passport, plus a face check since 1 July 2026) and your phone (its IMEI number). The seller does both. A travel eSIM on roaming skips both, but gives you no Indonesian +62 number.
Balitel is not Telkomsel. Balitel sells Telkomsel. Telkomsel is the network: it owns the towers and gives out the phone numbers. Balitel is an authorized Telkomsel retailer in Kuta, Bali, and is not owned by Telkomsel. A Balitel eSIM is a real Telkomsel line with a +62 number. You buy it online before you fly, and Balitel does the passport and IMEI registration for you.
Who wrote this
Balitel is an authorized Telkomsel retailer in Kuta, Bali, registered as Telkomsel outlet 3301071729. We are part of Diamond Handphone, trading in Bali since 1998. We sell Telkomsel lines only, so we are not neutral. That is why every number on this page comes from the operators' own reports, the government, or Opensignal, an independent network tester, and is listed under Sources. Figures checked 7 October 2026.
Indonesia's Three Mobile Networks
At home you may have a few big networks and many smaller brands that rent space on them. Indonesia works the same way, with one simplification: there are only three networks. Every SIM card on every shop counter belongs to one of them.
| Network | Lines, June 2026 | Share | Brands you will see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telkomsel | 153.5 million | 48.5% | Telkomsel, by.U, Telkomsel Halo (monthly plans) |
| Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison | 93.4 million | 29.5% | IM3, Tri (also written 3) |
| XLSmart | 69.4 million | 21.9% | XL, AXIS, Smartfren |
Lines are the active SIM cards each operator reported for June 2026. Share is each network's lines divided by the three networks' total of 316.3 million, rounded.
Lines are SIM cards, not people. Many Indonesians carry two SIMs, often on two different networks, so these totals count some people twice.
Who owns each network
| Network | Main owners |
|---|---|
| Telkomsel | Telkom Indonesia 69.9% (controlled by the Indonesian state) and Singtel of Singapore 30.1% |
| Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison | Ooredoo Hutchison Asia about 65.6% (a joint venture of Ooredoo of Qatar and CK Hutchison of Hong Kong). The Indonesian state holds a minority stake of about 9.6%. |
| XLSmart | Axiata Group (Malaysia) 34.8% and Sinar Mas (Indonesia) 34.8% |
Only Telkomsel is controlled by the Indonesian state. The state also owns about 9.6% of Indosat, but that is a minority stake: Indosat is run by Ooredoo Hutchison Asia. XLSmart is run by Malaysia's Axiata together with Indonesia's Sinar Mas.
How 12 Networks Became 3
Ten years ago Indonesia had around a dozen mobile operators. Mergers cut that to three. You only need to know about two of them, because the old brand names are still on sale.
| When | What happened | What you see today |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Indosat Ooredoo merged with Hutchison 3 Indonesia (Tri) | IM3 and Tri SIMs, both on the Indosat network |
| 16 April 2025 | XL Axiata merged with Smartfren to form XLSmart | XL, AXIS and Smartfren SIMs, all on the XLSmart network |
| 2022–2023 | All three networks switched off 3G | Phones connect on 4G, or 5G in some areas |
Why this matters in a shop: a Tri SIM and an IM3 SIM give you the same Indosat network. A Smartfren SIM is now XLSmart. A by.U SIM is Telkomsel. The logo on the packet is a brand, not a separate network.
About Telkomsel: Who Owns It and Why It Is the Biggest
Telkomsel (full name PT Telekomunikasi Selular) is Indonesia's largest mobile network. It started in 1995. It is not a private company, and it is not a government department either. It sits in between, and the easiest way to see it is as a chain.
The Republic of Indonesia
owns 52.09% of ↓
Telkom Indonesia
owns 69.9% of ↓
Telkomsel
The other 30.1% of Telkomsel belongs to Singtel, Singapore's largest telecoms company.
So is Telkomsel owned by the government?
Controlled by the government, yes. Fully owned, no.
- The Indonesian state is Telkom's controlling shareholder, with 52.09%. Since March 2025 those shares are held through Danantara, Indonesia's state investment fund. The state also keeps one special "Dwiwarna" share that carries special rights.
- Telkom holds 69.9% of Telkomsel, so the state, through Telkom, is Telkomsel's controlling owner.
- Multiply the two and the state's indirect slice of Telkomsel is about 36% (52.09% × 69.9%). Control comes from holding the majority at each step, not from that 36%.
- The rest of Telkom is listed on the stock market, in Jakarta and New York.
The split changed once in recent years. Until 2023 it was 65% Telkom and 35% Singtel. When Telkom moved its home internet business, IndiHome, into Telkomsel in 2023, Telkom's share rose to 69.9%.
Telkomsel is not the same as Telkom
The names are close, and people mix them up. Telkom Indonesia is the parent company, listed on the stock market, with businesses from fixed lines to data centres. Telkomsel is its mobile network, the one your phone connects to. Telkomsel's own service centres are called GraPARI.
Telkomsel in numbers
| What | Figure |
|---|---|
| Mobile lines | 153.5 million (June 2026) |
| Prepaid customers | About 94% of the total (September 2025) |
| Mobile towers | About 301,000 (June 2026) |
| — of which 4G | About 246,000 |
| — of which 5G | About 6,000 |
| — of which 2G | About 49,000 |
| Home internet (IndiHome) | About 9.5 million customers (June 2026) |
| Started | 1995 |
Look at the tower split. 4G does almost all the work. 5G exists in parts of big cities, but it is a small share of the network, so do not choose a plan for 5G.
Why the biggest network matters to a visitor
Not for prestige. For towers.
Indonesia is more than 17,000 islands. A tower in a village of 200 people only pays for itself if enough of those people are already your customers. The network with the most customers can afford the most towers in quiet places.
Opensignal, which measures networks from millions of real phones, scores Telkomsel 8.6 out of 10 for coverage across Indonesia's populated areas, against 5.5 for Indosat and 4.8 for XL (April to June 2026). That gap barely shows in South Bali, where all three networks are dense. It shows where few people live.
Does state control change anything for you?
No. All three networks follow the same laws: the same SIM registration, the same IMEI rules, the same regulator. What state control explains is history. Telkomsel has been building as the state-linked network since 1995, and that head start is why it reaches places the others do not.
Indosat and XLSmart in Brief
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison: number two
- Lines: 93.4 million (June 2026).
- Brands: IM3 and Tri (also written 3).
- Owner: controlled by Ooredoo Hutchison Asia (about 65.6%), a joint venture of Ooredoo (Qatar) and CK Hutchison (Hong Kong). The Indonesian state holds about 9.6%.
- Network: about 214,000 4G sites and 10,000 5G sites (June 2026).
- Strength in tests: Opensignal's April to June 2026 report gave Indosat the national award for Consistent Quality, and its users spent the most time connected to 4G or 5G.
XLSmart: number three, and the fastest this year
- Lines: 69.4 million (June 2026).
- Brands: XL, AXIS and Smartfren.
- Owner: Axiata Group (Malaysia) and Sinar Mas (an Indonesian conglomerate), 34.8% each.
- Born: 16 April 2025, when XL Axiata and Smartfren merged.
- Strength in tests: the most awarded network in Opensignal's April to June 2026 report, with the fastest average download speed nationally (40.9 Mbps, against Telkomsel's 39.7 and Indosat's 30.5) and the fastest 5G.
We sell Telkomsel, and we will still say it plainly: if this page were only about speed tests, XLSmart would be this year's headline.
Which Network Is Best in Bali?
Opensignal splits Indonesia into regions. Bali is grouped with Nusa Tenggara (Lombok and the islands to the east) as "Bali Nusra". Here is that region for April to June 2026, plus the national coverage score. The best result in each row is in bold.
| Measure | Telkomsel | Indosat | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday download speed | 43.1 Mbps | 36.3 Mbps | 37.9 Mbps |
| 5G download speed | 97.5 Mbps | 56.1 Mbps | 104.9 Mbps |
| Reliability (100–1000) | 831 | 897 | 900 |
| Consistent quality (% of tests) | 68.2% | 77.8% | 77.6% |
| Time with a 4G or 5G signal | 96.2% | 98.0% | 98.0% |
| Coverage, all of Indonesia (0–10) | 8.6 | 5.5 | 4.8 |
Source: Opensignal, Indonesia Mobile Network Experience Report, July 2026 (data from 1 April to 29 June 2026). Opensignal labels XLSmart's results "XL".
What the table says, in plain words
- Fastest everyday speed in Bali: Telkomsel.
- Steadiest connection in Bali: Indosat and XL, both ahead of Telkomsel on reliability and consistency.
- Widest reach across Indonesia: Telkomsel, by a big margin.
Our honest reading. Staying in Seminyak, Canggu or Ubud? All three networks work well, and most visitors would never notice the difference. Heading somewhere quieter, such as the Nusa islands, Lombok, Flores or long drives through the hills? Coverage starts to decide, and coverage is Telkomsel's strongest number.
👉 The full head-to-head: Telkomsel vs Indosat vs XLSmart
👉 Which network does your Bali eSIM actually use? We checked 13 brands.
The Rules Every Visitor Should Know
Two government bodies set the rules you will meet:
- Komdigi, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (called Kominfo until October 2024), runs SIM registration and the networks.
- Bea Cukai, Indonesian customs, handles phones brought in from abroad.
| The rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 1. Every SIM is registered to a real person. | As a tourist, your passport is your ID. The seller registers it. |
| 2. New SIMs need a face check (since 1 July 2026). | Foreigners register with a passport or stay permit plus face verification. Expect any authorized seller to ask for a photo of you. We ask for a selfie holding your passport. |
| 3. Your phone's IMEI must be registered. | Only for a local Indonesian SIM or eSIM. Explained in the next section. |
| 4. There is a cap on numbers per identity. | One or two tourist lines will not come near it. |
| 5. Roaming lines are exempt. | A travel eSIM, or your home SIM on roaming, skips rules 1 to 4. |
Why so strict? The government says the identity checks are there to stop scams and fraud run from anonymous numbers. The IMEI rule targets smuggled and stolen phones. Neither rule is aimed at tourists. Tourists simply pass through the same gate as everyone else.
One technical rule of thumb: 3G is gone in Indonesia, so your phone needs 4G. Almost any phone from the last several years is fine.
👉 Why you need a passport to buy a SIM or eSIM in Bali
IMEI Registration, in Plain English
The IMEI is your phone's serial number, usually 15 digits. Dial *#06# to see it. Since 18 April 2020, an Indonesian SIM card only works in a phone whose IMEI is in a government database. A phone bought abroad is not in that database until someone registers it.
The rule follows the phone, not the number. Swapping to another Indonesian SIM does not get around it.
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Use a travel eSIM, or your home SIM on roaming | No IMEI registration at all. |
| Buy a local SIM or eSIM and stay up to 90 days | The seller registers your phone. Free, passport needed. |
| Stay 91 to 180 days | Two 90-day plans, one after the other. This uses both of your tourist registrations. No customs visit. |
| Stay longer than 180 days, or want any Indonesian SIM to work | Register with Bea Cukai at the airport when you land. Deadline: 60 days after arrival. |
| Bought your phone from an official shop in Indonesia | Nothing to do. It is already registered. |
Three details most guides leave out
- It lasts as long as your plan. A Telkomsel tourist registration lasts 30, 60 or 90 days, matching the plan. It cannot be extended. Staying six weeks? Buy the 60-day plan from the start.
- Only twice in any 12 months. Telkomsel allows two tourist registrations in any rolling 12 months, for the same phone and the same passport. Two 90-day plans back to back can therefore cover up to 180 days. Telkomsel explained this rule to us as a reseller. We could not find it on a government page.
- A wrong IMEI usually cannot be fixed. On a tourist line, a mistyped number or another phone's IMEI uses up the registration. The one exception: if you sent your phone's other IMEI, the eSIM can be moved to it. Send a screenshot of the IMEI shown next to Telkomsel in your phone's settings, not a typed number.
The customs route, for long stays
For stays longer than 180 days, or if you want any Indonesian SIM to work in your phone, register at the Bea Cukai counter at the airport on the day you land. The first USD 500 of the phone's value is duty-free there. On the rest, expect roughly 22% to 44% in duty and taxes. The officer decides. After that, the phone works with any Indonesian SIM, permanently.
👉 The complete IMEI guide for Bali and Indonesia, with costs and step-by-step customs instructions
Local Line or Travel eSIM?
Everything above is about local Indonesian lines. A travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) is a foreign line that roams onto an Indonesian network. It skips the paperwork, and that is a real advantage. Here is the trade.
| Local Telkomsel line | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesian +62 number | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Passport and face check | Yes | Not needed |
| IMEI registration | Yes, the seller does it | Not needed |
| Which network you use | Telkomsel, always | Picked for you, can change |
| Gojek and Grab sign-up codes | ✅ Arrive | ⚠️ Often do not arrive |
| GoPay, OVO and DANA top-ups, QRIS | ✅ Yes | ❌ Hard or impossible |
| Drivers can call you | ✅ Local call | ⚠️ International call |
| Best for | Longer stays, ride apps, paying like a local | Short trips, several countries, no paperwork |
For a few days of maps and messages, a travel eSIM is simpler. We sell local lines, and we would rather say that than have you find out later.
- Do you need an Indonesian number for Gojek?
- Do you need an Indonesian number for Grab?
- Why global travel eSIMs can fail in Bali
Where Can a Tourist Buy a Telkomsel Line?
Not online from Telkomsel itself. Telkomsel's own online eSIM sales need an Indonesian ID card or a KITAS residence permit, which tourists do not have. That leaves three places.
| Where | Who runs it | Sorted before you fly? |
|---|---|---|
| GraPARI service centre | Telkomsel | ❌ In person only |
| Airport counters | Third-party sellers under Telkomsel branding (see what they charged in our 2026 price survey) | ❌ On arrival |
| Authorized retailer, such as Balitel | Licensed Telkomsel outlets | ✅ Yes |
With us, you buy a Telkomsel tourist eSIM for Bali online, then send your passport, a selfie holding your passport, and your arrival date. You install the eSIM from the QR code we send by WhatsApp. On your arrival day, even before your plane lands, we register your phone and switch the line on. We delete your passport details 30 days after your line is activated.
| Your stay | Plan |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | 30-day Telkomsel eSIM, 10GB to 103GB, from USD $14 |
| 31 to 60 days | 60-day Telkomsel eSIM, 150GB |
| 61 to 90 days | 90-day Telkomsel eSIM, 200GB |
| 91 to 180 days | Two 90-day plans, one after the other |
| More than 180 days | Register with Bea Cukai at the airport, then any Indonesian SIM works |
👉 Why tourists cannot buy a Telkomsel eSIM directly from Telkomsel
Words You Will Hear in Indonesia
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| +62 | Indonesia's country code. A "+62 number" is an Indonesian phone number. |
| Pulsa | Prepaid credit. You top it up, then spend it on calls, texts or data packages. |
| Kuota | Your data allowance, in GB. |
| Paket | A data package or bundle. |
| Konter | A small shop selling SIM cards and credit. |
| GraPARI | Telkomsel's own customer service centres. |
| IMEI | Your phone's serial number. It must be registered to use a local SIM. |
| Bea Cukai | Indonesian customs. |
| Komdigi | The ministry that regulates phones and the internet. Formerly Kominfo. |
| KITAS | A stay permit for foreigners living in Indonesia. |
| OTP | A one-time code sent by SMS to confirm a sign-up. |
| QRIS | Indonesia's national QR code for payments, used in shops and warungs across the country. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Telkomsel?
Telkom Indonesia owns 69.9% of Telkomsel and Singtel, Singapore's largest telecoms company, owns 30.1%. Telkom Indonesia is controlled by the Indonesian government, which owns 52.09% of it, held since March 2025 through Danantara, the state investment fund. That makes Telkomsel a state-controlled company, though not a fully state-owned one.
Is Telkomsel owned by the government of Indonesia?
It is controlled by the government, but not fully owned by it. The Indonesian state owns 52.09% of Telkom Indonesia, and Telkom owns 69.9% of Telkomsel. The remaining 30.1% of Telkomsel belongs to Singtel of Singapore. Multiplied through, the state's indirect share of Telkomsel is about 36%, but because it holds the majority at each step, it is the controlling owner.
What are the mobile networks in Indonesia?
Indonesia has three mobile networks. Telkomsel is the largest with 153.5 million lines, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison is second with 93.4 million, and XLSmart is third with 69.4 million (June 2026). Brands such as by.U (Telkomsel), IM3 and Tri (Indosat), and XL, AXIS and Smartfren (XLSmart) all run on one of these three networks.
Which is the biggest mobile network in Indonesia?
Telkomsel, with 153.5 million lines in June 2026, about 48.5% of all lines on Indonesia's three networks. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison had 93.4 million and XLSmart 69.4 million. Telkomsel also scored highest for coverage in Opensignal's April to June 2026 tests, with 8.6 out of 10 against 5.5 for Indosat and 4.8 for XL.
Which mobile network is best in Bali?
It depends on what you value. In Opensignal's April to June 2026 results for Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Telkomsel had the fastest everyday download speed (43.1 Mbps), XL had the fastest 5G, and Indosat and XL scored higher for reliability and consistent quality. Across Indonesia, Telkomsel has by far the widest coverage. In South Bali all three work well. Coverage matters more on quieter islands and roads.
Is Telkomsel the same as Telkom?
No. Telkom Indonesia is the parent company, listed on the stock market and controlled by the Indonesian government. Telkomsel is its mobile network, 69.9% owned by Telkom and 30.1% by Singtel. Telkomsel's own service centres are called GraPARI.
What is the difference between Balitel and Telkomsel?
Telkomsel is Indonesia's largest mobile network. It owns the towers and gives out the phone numbers. Balitel is an authorized Telkomsel retailer in Kuta, Bali (Telkomsel outlet 3301071729), part of Diamond Handphone, and is not owned by Telkomsel. A Balitel eSIM is a real Telkomsel line with an Indonesian +62 number, so the signal, speed and coverage are the same as any Telkomsel line. What Balitel adds is service. Telkomsel's own online eSIM needs an Indonesian ID card or KITAS, so tourists cannot buy it there. With Balitel you buy online before you fly, Balitel registers your passport and your phone's IMEI for you, and the line is switched on the day you arrive. Support answers on WhatsApp from 08:00 to 02:00 Bali time.
What happened to XL and Smartfren?
XL Axiata and Smartfren merged on 16 April 2025 to form XLSmart, Indonesia's third-largest mobile network, with 69.4 million lines in June 2026. The XL, AXIS and Smartfren brands are still sold, and all three now run on the XLSmart network. Axiata Group of Malaysia and Indonesia's Sinar Mas each own 34.8%.
Can tourists buy an Indonesian SIM card or eSIM?
Yes. Tourists register with their passport, and since 1 July 2026 new SIM registrations also need a face check. The seller also registers the phone's IMEI, free, for stays up to 90 days. Tourists cannot buy a Telkomsel eSIM online from Telkomsel itself. They buy from a GraPARI centre, an airport counter, or an authorized retailer such as Balitel, which can set it up before you fly.
Does Indonesia still have 3G?
No. All three networks switched off 3G between 2022 and 2023. Phones connect on 4G, or 5G in some areas. Telkomsel's network in June 2026 had about 246,000 4G sites against about 6,000 5G sites, so 4G is what you will use most of the time.
Who regulates mobile phones in Indonesia?
Komdigi, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, regulates SIM registration and the mobile networks. It was called Kominfo until October 2024. Bea Cukai, Indonesian customs, handles the registration of phones brought into the country from abroad.
What do pulsa and kuota mean?
Pulsa is prepaid credit on an Indonesian phone line, used for calls, texts or buying packages. Kuota is your data allowance, measured in GB. A paket is a data package. A tourist eSIM usually comes with its kuota already included, so you only need a top-up if you run out.
What is GraPARI?
GraPARI is the name of Telkomsel's own customer service centres. You can buy a Telkomsel line there in person with your passport. Authorized retailers, such as Balitel, sell the same official Telkomsel lines and can set them up before you arrive.
The Short Version
Indonesia has three mobile networks: Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and XLSmart. Telkomsel is the largest. The Indonesian state controls it through Telkom Indonesia, with Singtel as a 30.1% partner, and its edge is reach: the widest coverage in the country. XLSmart is the fastest in this year's tests, and Indosat the most consistent.
To use a local line, you register your passport (and, since July 2026, your face), and your phone's IMEI is registered for the length of your plan. The seller does both. A travel eSIM skips all of it but gives you no +62 number, which is what Gojek, Grab and local payments depend on.
Questions: WhatsApp +62 813 3945 804 or hello@balitel.com
Sources
- Telkom Indonesia, Annual Report 2025, shareholder composition — the state's 52.09% of Telkom, held through Danantara, and the special Dwiwarna share.
- Telkom Indonesia, disclosure to the Indonesia Stock Exchange, 27 June 2023 — Telkomsel ownership moving from 65% / 35% to 69.9% Telkom and 30.1% Singtel.
- IDX Channel, 4 August 2026 — Telkomsel first half 2026: 153.5 million lines, about 301,000 towers (246,000 4G, 6,000 5G, 49,000 2G), about 9.5 million home internet customers.
- Selular.id, November 2025 — about 94% of Telkomsel customers are prepaid.
- Bisnis.com, 28 July 2026 — Indosat first half 2026: 93.4 million lines, about 214,000 4G and 10,000 5G sites.
- Bisnis.com, 13 September 2026 — XLSmart second quarter 2026: 69.4 million lines.
- IDX Channel, January 2022 — Indosat ownership after the Indosat and Hutchison 3 merger: Ooredoo Hutchison Asia 65.6%, the Indonesian state 9.6%.
- XLSmart, merger FAQ — XL Axiata and Smartfren merged into XLSmart, effective 16 April 2025.
- Mobile World Live, December 2024 — Axiata and Sinar Mas at 34.8% each, and the market shrinking from around 12 operators to three.
- Opensignal, Indonesia Mobile Network Experience Report, July 2026 — national and Bali Nusra results, data from 1 April to 29 June 2026.
- Bisnis.com, 1 July 2026, on Komdigi Regulation 7 of 2026 — face verification for new SIM registrations from 1 July 2026; foreigners use a passport or stay permit plus face verification.
- Bea Cukai Ngurah Rai, IMEI registration — the 90-day split, roaming exemption, USD 500 allowance, 60-day deadline and duty rates.
- Detik, December 2022 — Indosat completes its 3G shutdown, alongside Telkomsel and XL phasing out 3G.
- Telkomsel's tourist-line rules (registration length, two registrations in any 12 months, a mistyped IMEI cannot be corrected), as explained to Balitel as an authorized reseller in 2026.
Figures checked on 7 October 2026. Operators report new numbers every quarter, and Opensignal publishes new results about twice a year, so some figures will move. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. If you find something that no longer matches, tell us and we will update it.
