Telecommunication Operator Agreed, Kominfo Reforms 5G Network In Indonesia

JAKARTA - Telecommunications operators who win the 2.3 GHz network frequency auction must accept a decision from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo). Given that Kominfo canceled the auction process for the procurement of 5G services in Indonesia.

Previously, Kominfo through the Selection Team announced that the process of selecting users of the 2.3 GHz frequency band in the 2,360-2,390 MHz range for the purpose of operating cellular mobile networks was declared to have been terminated.

However, the Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G Plate, confirmed that the implementation of 5G in Indonesia will continue even though the selection process for radio frequency 2.3GHz, which is one of the "bands" for the fifth generation internet network, is stopped.

"Initial 5G deployment will continue to be carried out in all layer band spectrum, both lower band, coverage band and super data layer band, not only depending on the 2.3 GHz spectrum," said Minister Johnny as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 25.

President Director of Telkomsel, Setyanto Hantoro, in his statement on Monday said, "Telkomsel respects the decision of the Ministry of Communication and Information and will fully comply with the established process."

The 2.3GHz frequency selection process started in November. One month later, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced the results of the selection of the 2.3GHz radio frequency band block, with Smartfren getting Block A, Indonesia getting Block B, and Telkomsel getting Block C.

With the termination of the selection process, the results of the selection process which had been carried out and announced in December in a transparent manner to the public would be declared canceled.

The same thing was also conveyed by the President Director of Smartfren, Merza Fachys, who said he would continue to follow the process and coordinate with the Ministry of Communication and Information.

"Smartfren will continue to coordinate with Kominfo, for the next better process. We will follow the process that will be decided later," said Merza.

Meanwhile, the termination of the selection process was taken as a precautionary step from the Ministry of Communication and Information to harmonize each part of this selection process with the provisions of laws and regulations relating to Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) within the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, especially Regulations. Government Number 80 of 2015.

With the termination of the 2.3 GHz radio frequency auction process. Kominfo has returned the selection participation guarantee document (bid bond) to representatives of the relevant auction selection participants, namely Telkomsel, Smartfren, and Hutchison Tri Indonesia.