Posted by Brian M on Friday, 16. October 1998 at 07:07 Bali Time:
In Reply to: IMPORTANT: Cheap Handphone Usage posted by HBF/PVL staff on Tuesday, 13. October 1998 at 15:46 Bali Time:
Yesterday, I asked if HBF/PVL staff could provide more infromation on the SIM card. I notice that Mark has provided some information, thanks, Mark. I did email Telkomsel, the local mobile service provider and the following is the response I received. It may be useful to those travellers who want to use a mobile in Bali.
Dear Mr Moore
Thank you for your compliments and question to Telkomsel. Indeed our simPATI card is a good solution for foreign tourists wishing to remain reachable at the lowest possible costs.
The advantages are:
- you will not pay for any incoming calls while you are on Bali, which you would if you would be using your Australian GSM SIM card there (you will be charged IDD costs between
Australia and Indonesia for all calls you receive on your phone while roaming in Indonesia).
- you will be charged the normal simPATI outgoing tariffs for outgoing calls which are very low Indonesian Rupiah rates, instead of the much higher dollar rates. You will
therefore benefit from the currently extremely low Rupiah exchange rates.
- you can purchase a simPATI SIM card immediately upon arrival in Bali as we sell them in a counter just outside the arrival hall of the airport. You can also go to any authorized
Telkomsel dealer, Fuji Image Plaza outlet or Telkomsel office in Bali without any application or administration process.
The disadvantage indeed is that you will be reachable under a new telephone number. This number will start with +62 812 x xxx xxx. Since this is an Indonesian number, people
wishing to call you from Australia will have to pay IDD costs for the call.
Please let us know in case you have any further questions or need support. For your information while in Indonesia you can call our English-language customer service hotline 24
hours a day on 0811-88-0811.
Thank you for your interest in Telkomsel, Indonesia's leading cellular operator.
Best regards,
ERIK MEIJER,
Manager Sales Support & Marketing Communications.