Solar, water and internet
Sumba has long, dry seasons and patchy grid power and mobile data. Many owners plan for their own solar, water storage and satellite internet.
- A 2022 government master plan for Sumba gives an electrification ratio of 85.84% for 2021, the lowest among the NTT islands it cites, with a target of 100% (Bappenas, 2022).
- The same plan reports 9.3 MW of renewable capacity on Sumba in 2018 and a renewable share of 20.9% of the energy mix, with targets of over 79.85 MW and over 90% (Bappenas, 2022).
- Grid-connected rooftop solar is governed by Energy Ministry Regulation 2 of 2024 (31 January 2024). Net metering was removed, so power you send to the grid does not reduce your bill (SIP Law Firm, 2025).
- Under that rule each grid operator sets a five-year rooftop solar quota per power system, and applications are accepted only in January and July (SIP Law Firm, 2025). An off-grid system with batteries avoids this but costs more.
- A 2015 report on the Sumba Iconic Island programme says the dry season lasts 8 months (Connect4Climate, 2015). Plan water storage for the dry months.
- In June 2022 parts of NTT had gone three months without rain, and household tanks in Haharu (East Sumba) had run dry. Wells there need 60 to 70 m of depth and take a week to a month to dig in rocky ground (AsiaNews, 2022).
- Starlink was launched in Indonesia on 19 May 2024 in Bali, with a retail internet licence and a VSAT permit. The government said it would focus first on outer and underdeveloped regions (The Jakarta Post / Reuters, 2024).
- New Starlink sign-ups in Indonesia were paused from 13 to 23 July 2025 because capacity ran out, then reopened (Bisnis.com, 2025). Check availability for your exact location on Starlink's site before you rely on it.
Sources: komens.bappenas.go.id, siplawfirm.id, connect4climate.org, asianews.it, thejakartapost.com, satellitetoday.com, teknologi.bisnis.com
Checked 2026-11-08. Not legal or financial advice.
More guides
Visas and residence permits
Indonesia has several long-stay permits for foreigners who want to live on Sumba. They differ in who qualifies, how much money you must show and whether you may work.
Opening a bank account
A personal account is much easier to open once you hold a KITAS. A company account for a PT PMA needs the company's full set of papers and, in most banks, the director in person.
Sending money to buy property
Large payments for property usually go by bank transfer and are paid in rupiah inside Indonesia. Banks report cross-border transfers, and cash over IDR 100 million must be declared at the border.
Annual property tax and running costs
The yearly land and building tax (PBB-P2) is set and collected by each regency, within a national cap of 0.5%. A foreign-owned company also has recurring reporting duties.
Building permits: PBG and SLF
Before you build you need a zoning approval and a building approval (PBG), and before anyone moves in or rents the building you need a certificate of fitness (SLF).
Culture, land and respect
On Sumba, land is tied to clans, ancestors and ritual. Disputes over coastal land for tourism have turned violent, so slow, respectful contact with the village matters as much as the paperwork.