English is widely spoken and understood in Jakarta by most business people, although much less so in other cities. Most of the better hotels have English-speaking staff, as do the shopping centers which cater to expatriates. International telephone operators also speak English. However, the level of English can vary. Indonesian firms hoping to conduct business with foreigners generally try to employ some English speakers.
Telephone services vary between areas in Jakarta.
They depend largely on the local telephone exchange's capacity to handle traffic. Phone service is good along the main business thoroughfares and the newer residential areas, which are served by fibre optic trunk lines. In the older residential areas service is less reliable, extra phone lines can be costly, and obtaining them can be time consuming. Cellular services are readily available but the quality of service varies. 32nd Floor Jl.