Staying Connected

IKN's connectivity is better than most people expect from a city still under construction, and it's worth knowing why. Telkomsel launched Indonesia's first 5G Standalone (5G SA) network here in 2024, purpose-built as a showcase for the city's smart-city ambitions, with dozens of dedicated base stations covering the Government Center Core Area and the surrounding sites. This isn't a token rollout, IKN was chosen specifically to demonstrate what Telkomsel's most advanced network technology looks like in practice.

If you already have an Indonesian mobile plan, from Telkomsel, Indosat, or XL, you likely won't need to do anything special. Telkomsel in particular has also strengthened its network along the Balikpapan and Samarinda corridors that lead into IKN, so coverage should hold up on the drive in as well as once you arrive.

International visitors are really the main group who'll want to sort out a local SIM or eSIM. That's easy to do, there's a Telkomsel booth right in the arrivals area of Balikpapan's Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman airport, and a dedicated Telkomsel service center, GraPARI Nusantara, is even located on-site within IKN itself.

WiFi is available at hotels like Swissotel and Hotel Qubika, and at some public facilities in the core area, but don't count on it at outdoor public sites like Titik Nol, the plazas, or the glass bridge. Given the strength of the cellular network here, that's rarely a problem in practice.

If your day includes navigating between stops with a map app, download offline maps for the region as a backup regardless, coverage can still thin out in newer or less-developed sections, particularly if you're heading further out to day-trip sites like Bukit Bangkirai or Goa Tapak Raja.