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View all search resultsExecutive column: Ericsson chief says 5G key to Indonesia's digital ambitions
Ericsson Indonesia president director Nora Wahby spoke to The Jakarta Post’s Maudey Khalisha on May 19 to discuss rolling out the 5G spectrum in Indonesia toward realizing the country’s digital ambitions and elevating its global competitiveness.
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Nora Wahby, president director of Ericsson Indonesia (Ericsson/- )
A
s Indonesia races to accelerate its digital transformation, expand artificial intelligence adoption and attract more foreign investment in the technology sector, one critical pillar in the framework remains underdeveloped compared to its regional peers: 5G infrastructure.
Ericsson Indonesia president director Nora Wahby spoke to The Jakarta Post’s Maudey Khalisha on May 19 to discuss why 5G is essential to the government’s digital ambitions, what obstacles are slowing the technology’s rollout and how stronger digital infrastructure could enhance the country's competitiveness in the global economy.
Question: Indonesia's 5G coverage remains low. What is the biggest hurdle the country is facing?
Answer: It’s undeniable that Indonesia is behind. The 5G spectrum is late, at least five years late in comparison to neighboring countries. So, I think we have a journey ahead of us when it comes to 5G enablement.
Today we are running at a very low, below-5 percent penetration rate of 5G, and the expectation is by 2030 that we reach at least 30 percent. That's a good, ambitious plan and it would require mobilization from the service providers, regulator and different players in the industry. The policy and the availability of the spectrum is a starting point, which took a long time to make it available.
Then of course, the capex [capital expenditure] investment that needs to be made to enable 5G on the network is important.
You need to look at this not only as a mechanism for growth but also [an] ability to innovate on top of it to get return on investment. That is the biggest challenge of operators, not only in Indonesia but globally.
