Internet on Komodo liveaboard?

I am looking forward to an 8-day Komodo liveaboard soon. At times I will need to check in on patients via email and return some emails while I am away. Is there a 3G network of sorts in Komodo that can be picked up on my Android while out at sea? Can you recommend a SIM card that will work well in the area? Or will I need to figure out how to bring along some satellite setup to briefly check and return emails while out on the dive sites? Also, can you recommend a reliable SIM card for Indonesia in general?

Thank you so much,

Terry

Terry, just about to finish my four week Indo diving holiday, where I was on the Komodo Dancer 3.5 weeks ago. They have installed a reception tower on Komodo Island itself, you will see it when you are there. Whilst on board many staff were using their mobiles and we had a wireless 3g setup for one of the staff to conduct business. Not sure what sim provider they were using tho.

HTH

Tovster:

Or will I need to figure out how to bring along some satellite setup to briefly check and return emails while out on the dive sites?

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If you do, I think it's one of these: https://www.satellitephonestore.com/rent/inmarsat/ I looked into it a few years ago also. At the time I don't think there was any way you could transmit data over a standard Iridium phone - just talk/text msg. - of course that may have changed now.

What I do is set up a personal hotspot with my iPhone and tether it to my laptop/iPad for email. The coverage is the problem. I just roam with my Thailand package (which I buy with a specific international roaming flat rate) so that I can connect with whichever provider I can get a signal for, but if you are going to buy an Indo SIM card from a specific service provider (meaning you can only pick up a signal from their towers), probably the SimPATI tourist card offers the widest coverage. There will be towers on Flores, Komodo, and Rinca at least.