TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Another milestone for Indosat- ready to launch 5G services to empower economic recovery
Change Size
(Courtesy of Indosat)
I
ndosat Ooredoo, Indonesia’s leading digital telecommunications provider, has successfully passed the Operation Feasibility Test (ULO) held on June 3-4 for the 1,800 MHz frequency band, a step forward in the digital transformation of Indonesia.
The successful ULO means Indosat Ooredoo is ready to roll out 5G commercially in the country. “This tremendous achievement shows our further commitment to driving digital transformation and growing the digital economy in Indonesia through the best technologies and high-speed connectivity, providing the best digital experience for enterprises and consumers,” said Indosat Ooredoo President Director and CEO Ahmad Al-Neama at a virtual press conference on the result of the feasibility study of Indosat Ooredoo’s 5G in the Communications and Information Ministry media center in Jakarta on June 14.
Al-Neama was accompanied by the company’s Director and Chief Operating Officer Vikram Sinha. While Communications and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate was accompanied by PPI Director General Ahmad Ramli and Telecommunications Director Aju Widyasari.
“We are deeply humbled and proud that Indosat Ooredoo has become part of the 5G ecosystem,” Al-Neama said.
“But today’s achievement is just a start. As the 5G ecosystem develops in the country, I believe it will enable industries to drive efficiencies and unlock the full economic potential of 5G,” he noted.
“I assure you that Indosat Ooredoo is ready to empower the 5G revolution, moving Indonesia toward a 5G-enabled future,” he remarked.
He disclosed that in the initial stage, Indosat Ooredoo’s 5G services will be made available in Jakarta; Surakarta, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; and Makassar, South Sulawesi; and would follow the ecosystem readiness.
Indonesia is one of the largest and fastest-developing emerging markets in the world and is Southeast Asia’s biggest digital economy.
As the Indonesian market adapts to new challenges, the roll-out of 5G will help to grow the digital economy in Indonesia by providing high-speed connectivity that ensures the best digital experience for enterprises and consumers.
“Our shareholder, Ooredoo Group, was the first in the world to launch a 5G commercial network in Qatar back in 2018 and we have all the experience to make it a success in Indonesia,” Al-Neama said.
Al-Neama expressed his deepest gratitude to the communications and information technology minister and all the ministry’s officials for their continuous support and assistance on 5G.
He also thanked Indosat Ooredoo’s stakeholders, enterprises and customers. “Indosat Ooredoo could not wait to officially launch and present to Indonesia the 5G transformative power,” Al-Neama remarked.
National economic growth
Meanwhile, Minister Johnny said that the implementation of 5G technology aimed to provide the people with more equitable telecommunication access as well as boosting national economic growth. The 5G technology is expected to narrow the gap in digital technology use and accelerate literacy through using more adaptive technology.
“Certainly, this will drive the use of the internet for more productive purposes and strengthen national economic growth,” he said.
The minister said "Today, Indosat Ooredoo has successfully become the latest telecommunication operator to be granted a Certificate of Operation Eligibility [SKLO] under which it can commercialize 5G technology,”.
According to Johnny, the ministry issued the SKLO to Indosat Ooredoo after conducting a feasibility test “With the issuance of the SKLO 5G means that all of the means and facilities for the 5G network that, Indosat Ooredoo has completely built is technically ready to operate. This will specifically use the frequency of 1,800 MHz,” he said.
Johnny said that the phases of the issuance of the SKLO were carried out based on Communications and Information Ministry Regulation No. 5/2021 on telecommunication operation. The regulation is the realization of the Job Creation Law and Government Regulation No. 46/2021 on post, telecommunication and broadcasting.
The ministry explained that the standardization of the 5G network provided several frequency allocations that could be utilized for basic connectivity, mobile broadband speed and super data layer on the frequency of 26, 28 and 39 GHz, inclusive of fixed broadband.
“Cellular operators have an opportunity to choose a neutral technology that matches with their business and the respective environmental circumstances where they operate. We hope that what they choose will support the operation of cellular telecommunication services to develop the technology ecosystem,” he said.
The 5G technology is expected to develop soon and continues to be expanded based on the market demand in other areas.
“Apart from Java Island, the 5G network will be applied in priority tourism destinations, such as Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara [NTB], Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara and [NTT] and Liupang in North Sulawesi. The 5G network will also be available in manufacturing industrial areas and also in the country’s new capital in 2024,” he said.
The minister also hopes that the 5G network will provide a service that will support industry and the people in the future in line with the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoTs) technology.
Johnny said that the government placed the 4G signal as the backbone of digital transformation across Indonesia. “Therefore, as stated earlier, the Communications and Information Ministry through the ministry’s Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency [BAKTI] will complete the construction of TIK [Information Technology Community] infrastructure in 3T [outermost, frontline and disadvantaged] regions in 2021 and 2022.”
According to Johnny, the government will conduct farming and re-farming of the frequency spectrum to implement 5G more efficiently and at the same time to optimize the use of the 4G network.
“The development of 5G will change the way we fill our digital world, given the incredible speed and low latency. Therefore, I hope that the 4G network will still serve as a backbone for our digital transformation and the initial commercial operation of 5G can be utilized maximally and smartly in the interests of our people,” he said.
“We will make sure that the presence of 5G will benefit the people and have an impact on economic recovery. We are confident that Indonesia will become one of the digital economic powers in Southeast Asia and the 5G technology will play a crucial role in stepping forward,” he added.
This article is joint collaboration between The Jakarta Post and Indosat Ooredoo
