On many remote Indonesian islands, mobile signal fades as soon as the boat leaves port. "Wi-Fi available" on a booking page says nothing about a 9am video call.
Beyond the mobile network, reliable internet depends on the individual property. It needs its own satellite link and the power to run that link around the clock.
We know this from the inside. Buka Buka Island has no grid and no public internet, so every connection our guests use runs on equipment we installed and power ourselves.
TL;DR
- Reconnect is a private island eco-resort with an on-site SSI dive center on Buka Buka Island in Indonesia's Togean Islands.
- Near Bali, connectivity comes from public networks. In remote archipelagos like the Togean Islands, it belongs to each property, so choose the property before the island.
- Reconnect has Starlink throughout the resort on solar power, with all-inclusive full board from EUR 60/night.
- Working legally is a separate question. Indonesia has a dedicated Remote Worker Visa with income requirements.
Where on Indonesia's islands can you get dependable internet?
Indonesian islands fall into three connectivity tiers. For remote work, the tier matters more than the island's reputation.
| Tier | Examples | Connection source | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islands near major hubs | Bali, Nusa Lembongan, the Gili Islands | Mobile network and fixed broadband | Generally strong in tourist areas. Bali has many coworking spaces |
| Gateway towns | Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Sorong (Raja Ampat) | Mobile network in town | Usable in town, fades once you head out by boat |
| Remote archipelagos | Raja Ampat, Togean Islands | The property's own satellite link, if it has one | Varies from one property to the next |
Our ranking for remote workers:
- Best for heavy call schedules: islands near Bali.
- Best for real remoteness: a remote archipelago, chosen property-first.
- Least reliable: an island picked for its beaches, with internet assumed.
What did Starlink change for remote Indonesian islands?
Low Earth Orbit satellite service, led by Starlink, made island internet independent of the nearest cell tower.
Island connectivity used to work like a town water main. If the pipe did not reach your island, nobody had supply.
A satellite dish works like a rooftop tank instead. Each property fills its own, which is why two guesthouses on neighbouring islands can offer very different internet.
The low orbit also keeps latency well below older geostationary satellite service. That difference is what makes video calls workable, not just email.
What satellite internet did not change:
- Power. The dish and router need electricity day and night. If a property runs power on a schedule, its Wi-Fi keeps the same schedule.
- Sharing. One link serves every guest, so busy evenings can be slower than early mornings.
- Weather. Heavy tropical downpours can briefly degrade any satellite signal.
- Backup. Where there is no mobile signal, a phone hotspot is not a fallback.
What does a working stay in the Togean Islands look like?
The Togean Islands belong to Central Sulawesi's Tojo Una-Una Regency, and regional internet infrastructure there has long been patchy.
Togean Islands accommodation varies widely in power hours and connection type. Confirm both with any place you consider.
Here is how we set up Reconnect for guests who work:
- Power: 93% solar, with a battery bank covering nights. The generator is backup only.
- Cooling: air conditioning in selected rooms, which very few Togean Islands resorts offer at all. Options include the Beachfront Villa with AC from EUR 110/night and Villa Athena, which sleeps up to 4, from EUR 175/night.
- Meals: three meals daily, afternoon tea, and unlimited coffee, tea and water.
- Breaks: complimentary house reef snorkeling with free gear, plus kayaks and paddleboards.
- Longer stays: an Island Residency program.
In Bali, full board is a convenience. On an island where we are effectively the only resort, there is no café down the road. Meals arriving on schedule protect your working hours.
Luwuk is the main reliable gateway. We arrange the private car to Ampana (5 hours) and the speedboat to the island (30-45 minutes).
The other reliable route comes in from the north via Gorontalo. Budget a full travel day each way, with no work planned.
Which visa covers remote work in Indonesia?
What many travellers call a digital nomad visa is officially Indonesia's Remote Worker Visa (E33G). It is a limited stay permit for foreigners employed by companies outside Indonesia. Immigration guidelines set a minimum annual income of USD 60,000.
- Requirements, fees and permitted activities change, so confirm them on official Indonesian immigration channels before booking flights.
- If your trip mixes holiday and work, settle which entry type fits before you travel, not after.
- Keep proof of foreign employment and income ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone are the Togean Islands in?
Central Sulawesi uses Central Indonesia Time (WITA, UTC+8), the same as Bali. A 9am meeting in London lands in the late afternoon on the island, which leaves your island mornings free.
Should I buy a local SIM card?
Pick one up on the mainland before the crossing. It helps on travel days and in town. On the islands, treat it as a backup for messages, not your working line.
What can I do on days off?
We run a paid Togean Day Trip by private boat into Togean Islands National Park, plus visits to nearby Bajo (Bajau sea nomad) communities. Both are booked separately from the room rate.
Can I learn to dive during a working stay?
Courses are booked and paid separately from your stay and taught in small groups in English, French or Indonesian. Training dives happen at reef sites around Buka Buka Island, a short boat ride away. Ask us how to fit a course around your working hours.
What should a remote worker pack?
- Downloaded files and offline maps, saved before you leave the mainland
- A power bank for the long travel day
- A dry bag for your laptop on the boat crossing
- A universal plug adapter
About Reconnect
Reconnect works with locally hired staff and village supplier partnerships, runs on zero single-use plastics, and has a Blue Oceans certified dive center. To plan a working stay, get in touch at reconnect.id.
