Talk:Indonesia/@comment-32750096-20190404132202/@comment-24682153-20190404171059

Hi Timmy.

I know you are lobbying hard to GREYLIST Indonesia. I've been to Bali lat month and I can tell you there is no reason for it. Indonesia has introduced mandatory SIM registration last year. This is not unusual in the region. In Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and other SE Asian countries you need to register your SIM card at the point of purchase showing your passport or other ID document for registration.

Like in all countries introducing this new requirement, there was some confusion at the start. SIMs were often sold through street vendors in Indonesia and many couldn't register foreigners (only Indonesian citizens). But this has changed. As I found out in Bali, not only the official branded stores can register visitors, but also some independent SIM vendors. I can't tell if all their registrations are legal, but at least you can get a working SIM card quite easily.

What has changed a bit, is that premiums charged at tourists have risen. They have quite doubled form 50,000 IDR to a 100,000 IDR within a year for a plain SIM card. These were the prices in Bali in official stores as well as independent sellers. Off the beaten tourist track, you will probably pay much less as locals often pay as little as 10,000 IDR.

But again, this scam is often found for instance at airports throughout the region and no reason to GREYLIST Indonesia. The are no technical or legal restraints, just the usual registration scheme and the usual rip-off when you come from abroad. That's why I've added a small section for roaming SIM cards in the Basics chapter. Staying only shortly or using little data, it can be the cheaper option, if you happen to come from e.g. Thailand or Malaysia.

So please understand that the evidence is not strong enough to GREYLIST Indonesia. They are only doing what many countries are doing, nothing unusual.