One of the Indonesian network giants, Telkomsel, is set to build 1,800 BTS broadbands for the new capital. (Image via Kompas Tekno)

Telkomsel to build at least 1,800 BTS in the new capital

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Internet & IT
Sep 28, 2019
1722
Indonesia is going to fully transfer its capital to Kalimantan island. To support the transfer, one of the biggest Indonesian network providers, Telkomsel, stated that it is building 1,800 base transmitter station (BTS) broadbands throughout the region.

The information came from Telkomsel’s General Manager of Network Operation Quality Management for the Kalimantan region, Rahmad Putra Jaya. Rahmad estimated that these BTS broadbands would be complete by the end of 2019.

However, regarding the number of new BTS in the new capital, Rahmad could not say. He only stated that Telkomsel was glad that the concept of the city was already “smart” in the beginning, so it only had to implement the rest.

In 2024, the capital of Indonesia would move partly to North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara regencies. Adopting the concept of “smart city”, a vast and fast internet connection is mandatory. Therefore, Telkomsel was said to build these BTS to facilitate 4G coverage in the area.

To hype it up, the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Rudiantara, hailed Kalimantan as the “net gate” for Indonesia to the international communities by the next 5 – 10 years. All along, Jakarta had been hailed as the “net gate” of Indonesia to the world. Anticipating the urbanization of millions of people to the new capital, Rudiantara said that the traffic would be adjusted.

- WHEN IS INDONESIA 5G-READY? -

While it is still far from 5G networks, the Indonesian government and other network providers are still preparing to welcome the successor of 4G networks with higher speed and lower latency.

One of these providers is XL Axiata. The President of XL Axiata, Dian Siswarini, revealed that in the past three years, it had fiberized its BTS broadband throughout Indonesia. XL stated that to gain the 5G network, the BTS broadband has to be connected to the fiber wire. Dian confirmed that 5G would certainly affect various sectors tremendously and its importance in realizing the “smart city” concept”.

Not only the fiberization, correct business model and investment in 5G spectrum are also needed. The Indonesian government has not determined which spectrum it will use for 5G networks. Dian estimated that it would take three more years for Indonesia to go 5G.

Rudiantara predicted the same as Dian. Indonesia will start using the 5G network a bit later than in other countries. While other countries are trying out 5G in the next two years, Indonesia will start using it in 2024, estimated the Minister.

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/teknologi/20190924142858-213-433396/pindah-ibu-kota-telkomsel-bangun-1800-bts-4g-di-kalimantan

Business , Internet , Connectivity , Politics , ASEAN , Indonesia , Capital , Transfer , Kalimantan , Smart-City , 4G , 5G