Can You Bring a Satellite Phone or Starlink Mini to Bali?

You can bring a Starlink Mini to Bali, but do not use it while moving on land: on 4 August 2025, Komdigi's Director General of Digital Infrastructure, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, said Starlink devices in Indonesia may not be used in a moving car (detikInet), and Starlink's support page says in-motion use on land is prohibited for customers in Indonesia. For satellite phones such as Iridium or Thuraya, we found no Komdigi or Customs rule written specifically for tourists, so the general rules of Law No. 36 of 1999 on Telecommunications apply. Everything here was checked 27 October 2026.

Before you go: what people get wrong

• Starlink is licensed in Indonesia, but for fixed locations. The service launched in Denpasar on 19 May 2024. In its August 2025 statement, Komdigi barred Starlink from selling "roaming" devices and threatened to revoke its landing right if devices were used in moving vehicles. The only exception mentioned was sea vessels, allowed for seven days.
• Starlink Mini in a rental car or on a scooter: don't. The ban targets the operator rather than tourists directly, but Starlink itself can cut off accounts that break its terms. Set it up only when stationary, for example at a villa or a mountain guesthouse.
• Your home Roam plan has a day limit. According to SatelliteInternet.com (16 July 2026), only Roam Unlimited now works abroad, with a 30-day limit outside your home country; for existing customers this applies from 17 August 2026. That is a third-party report, so confirm it in your Starlink account before flying.
• Signing up locally is not guaranteed. Starlink paused new Indonesian sign-ups because of full capacity before its permit was extended in August 2025. Don't count on subscribing on arrival.
• Satellite phones have no clear tourist rule. Law 36/1999 requires telecom devices brought into and used in Indonesia to meet technical requirements, and using radio spectrum needs a government licence. Indonesia does have licensed satellite phone service, such as PSN's Byru. Unlike India, which explicitly bans unlicensed Thuraya and Iridium handsets, Indonesia has not published a ban or a specific condition for tourists' devices. If you need certainty, email the Indonesian embassy in your country and keep the reply.
• IMEI rules only cover mobile networks. Phones on a foreign SIM need no IMEI registration. With an Indonesian SIM, foreign tourists can activate a temporary 90-day IMEI at an operator outlet, not at Customs, with a limit of two phones per passenger (Customs contact centre, quoted by DDTC in April 2024). Starlink uses no SIM card, so IMEI rules do not apply to it.
• Customs looks at value. Passengers' personal goods are duty-free up to a customs value of US$500 per person (Finance Ministry Regulation 203/PMK.04/2017). A brand-new Starlink Mini still in its box may be treated as goods bought abroad; keep the receipt and answer the goods questions on the All Indonesia arrival card honestly. If something is held, see our article on items held by Bali customs.

Do you even need one?

For most holidays, no. 4G covers Kuta, Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu and Sanur, and a local eSIM can be installed before you land; compare options in our Bali SIM card and eSIM guide. A Starlink Mini helps if you work remotely from a villa with weak signal, such as the Munduk highlands or the west Bali coast. A satellite phone makes sense only for sailing or trekking, and for Bali's mountains you still need a licensed guide.

Other device rules, including Bali drone rules, and other travel rules are collected on our Bali rules page.

FAQ

Can a Starlink Mini be confiscated at the airport? We found no reports of a tourist's Starlink being seized at Ngurah Rai as of 27 October 2026. The more realistic risk is being charged import duty if a new device exceeds the exemption limit.

Can I use Starlink on a boat to Nusa Penida or sailing to Komodo? Komdigi's August 2025 statement named sea vessels as an exception with a seven-day limit, without further detail. Also make sure your Starlink plan covers ocean use.

Does a phone's built-in satellite SOS count? Built-in emergency messaging is not a separate device and was not mentioned in Komdigi's statement. Availability in Indonesia depends on the phone maker, so check your phone's settings.