5G Roll-Out in Indonesia - What it Means for VRStrip Viewers

With a thriving digital economy and high network subscriber penetration, Indonesia is set to benefit greatly from 5G connectivity. However, several factors have hampered its progress, including limited spectrum availability and intense competition between mobile internet providers.

Nevertheless, telcos like XL Axiata and Smartfren are moving to boost Indonesia?s connectivity with efficient networks. Powered by Hyper AI, these networks optimize digital experiences and accelerate the country’s progress toward an Industry 4.0 economy.

The Indonesian market is still lagging behind when it comes to 5G penetration. Despite having one of the largest smartphone populations in the world, only 1% of mobile connections are on 5G networks. This is due to a combination of a lack of efficient spectrum utilization, slow operator deployments, and complicated geography.

However, the situation is improving. Indonesian regulator KOMINFO expects to achieve equitable deployment of 5G networks by 2025. The five main operators offer good coverage, with Telkomsel leading the way with 99% of its network classified as Good or Very Good. Smartfren and XL are close behind, with 90% and 88% of their network covered in those categories respectively. Three and Indosat are a bit further behind, with 63% and 70% of their network classified as Fair or better.

Nevertheless, Telkomsel was the first to launch commercial 5G services in the country, in late May of this year. The market leader launched its NSA-based 5G service in a few upmarket locations in Jakarta, and will soon expand to three more cities. Its technology is powered by Huawei’s 2.3 GHz spectrum, which promises data speeds up to four times faster than 4G. This enables a wide range of emerging digital applications and low-latency connections.

Telkomsel launched its 5G services in Jakarta on May 27 with mobile and home Internet, deploying a 20MHz allocation of 2.3GHz spectrum. The market leader also deployed an end-to-end Hyper AI network that uses auto-scaling and self-healing to mitigate issues caused by unforeseen events.

It will use its 5G network to deliver new digital services, including a virtual assistant for individuals and a virtual account manager for businesses. These apps can be used to confirm phone numbers and device locations, thereby thwarting SMS hijacking for fraud and enhancing the user experience of mobile financial services like payment platforms.

Other key applications include immersive sports fan experiences, leveraging network slicing and APIs. The Ericsson ConsumerLab study ‘Capturing value from 5G’ finds that users of this technology spend an average of 35 minutes a day using data-demanding digital services.

In Indonesia, the availability of high-speed connections could also accelerate the growth of e-commerce and a range of digitized business processes. This could potentially lead to greater GDP and a more efficient economy. The country has a large population of smartphone owners and a growing middle-class with increasing purchasing power. A high-speed 5G connection can also be an important stepping stone for digital inclusion, allowing underserved communities to benefit from the latest in tech and access vital services.

Indonesian telco XL Axiata and Chinese technology giant ZTE have forged an alliance to improve network performance, enhance service delivery and boost digital inclusion across the country. Through rapid equipment delivery and customised product development, the two companies will optimise network infrastructure at scale. The aim is to guarantee a seamless transition for users, as well as deliver consistent and reliable services over the long term.

Raka Pramudya, a Technology Expert from XL Axiata, believes that Indonesia has enormous potential to leverage 5G technology and realise the full benefits of connectivity. However, the country still faces challenges such as limited spectrum availability and high infrastructure costs. He suggested that a clear roadmap for 5G deployment and investment-friendly allocation of spectrum bands would help speed up the process.

This week, Telkomsel announced a significant expansion of its Hyper 5G network, starting with the cities of Denpasar and Badung in Bali. These two areas have some of the highest internet usage, 5G device penetration and strong small-medium size enterprise (MSMEs) potential in Indonesia. Moreover, they are also popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists, which makes them ideal testing grounds for the new technology.

While Indonesia is one of the fastest growing global economies, its broadband connectivity remains a struggle for many people. While the country has a robust internet service provider (ISP) sector and nearly 100% network subscriber penetration, a lack of mid-band spectrum is holding back progress.

In May, market leader Telkomsel launched 5G in a handful of mostly upmarket locations in Jakarta, leveraging its newly-released 20MHz allocation of the 2.3GHz spectrum to offer mobile and home Internet services. The move was a significant milestone in the operator’s mission to lead Indonesia’s digital transformation and bring cutting-edge technology to the masses.

However, it’s been almost two months since the launch and the full roll-out of the new service remains a long way off. Telkomsel has reportedly been struggling to find suitable base stations and equipment, and it’s yet to clear the broader spectrum needed for a full-scale 5G deployment.

Meanwhile, rival Indosat Ooredoo has been slow to follow suit, and it’s still unable to launch commercial 5G service due to a lack of spectrum. Despite the delays, it’s clear that the race to 5G is on in Indonesia. The country’s booming economy and vast population make it an important testbed for the new technology, and it seems poised to become a leading player in regional tech development.

If you want to maximize your experience on Indonesia’s 5G networks, it is recommended that you optimise your headset for local networks. This will improve your video quality by lowering the amount of data required for streaming. This will also prevent lag, buffering and poor sound quality.

While 5G offers a myriad of applications and benefits, it is not yet available to all Indonesians. A recent study by XL Axiata indicated that the majority of end-users are still using 4G devices. As such, the adoption of 5G technology may not take off until there is sufficient coverage.

To address this, the government should encourage spectrum sharing and simplify regulatory processes to lower investment costs. This would allow telcos to roll out more infrastructure, thus improving network connectivity and driving economic growth.

As a key player in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has the potential to become a digital pioneer. The country needs to invest in the right digital infrastructure to realise its Golden Indonesia Vision 2045. It also needs to lead the way for other ASEAN nations to follow suit. As the first nation in Southeast Asia to deploy 5G, Indonesia has a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The future of VR strip clubs hinges on the ability to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring that viewers are aware of the ethical, legal, and societal implications of this new technology. Producers must be willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible while ensuring that all parties involved are treated with respect and provided with safe, consensual experiences.

Indonesia’s 5G roll-out is a crucial step in achieving these goals, and will help to create a stronger business environment for local content creators. However, there are still many challenges ahead, including more clarity on regulatory issues and clearer roadmaps for the deployment of 5G.

As Indonesia becomes a leading market for 5G, it’s important that the government prioritize its roll-out in order to maximize the benefits of this technology and secure investor interest. This includes ensuring that users have the best 5G experience, with reliable connections and fast data speeds.

As a 5G pioneer, Indonesia has the potential to develop innovative new applications and use cases that could revolutionize society. These innovations are expected to increase demand for data, especially with the advent of new technologies such as self-driving cars and augmented reality. The optimistic champion scenario could also invent new applications that solve everyday problems, e.g. a Gojek like solution for food delivery (GSMA, 2019).

While Indonesia is at an early stage of 5G evolution, the country can expect a strong boost in digital adoption. Mobile data consumption in the region is expected to reach almost 54 GB per smartphone by 2028, driven by increasing 4G smartphone adoption and the launch of 5G networks.

The latest generation of network technology is opening up new opportunities for communications service providers (CSPs). With the interconnected evolution of mobile broadband business, fixed wireless access and private networks based on programmable networks, CSPs can explore various value pools through their layered approach to network business development.

A key driver is the increasing demand for immersive digital services such as cloud gaming, VR and AR apps. These applications have a high impact on the economy and the society, particularly in fields such as education, health, and entertainment.

This has prompted operators to accelerate their 4G networks and introduce more affordable plans. For example, Telkomsel has launched its 5G network in Greater Jakarta, the epicentre of economic activity and governance, and a national progress barometer. Its network is built with an end-to-end Hyper AI approach, ensuring efficient and automated network management through its Autonomous Network framework.