This Is The Reason The Ministry Of Communication And Information Asks Operators To Shut Down 3G, Not 2G!

The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate asked cellular operators to gradually inactivate 3G networks. (photo: doc. Kemenkominfo)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate asked cellular operators to gradually kill 3G networks and replace them with 4G.

Johnny expects that by the end of 2022, a number of blank spot areas or untouched telecommunication networks in Indonesia, including the 3T (Front, Remote and Disadvantaged) Regions, have fulfilled the 4G network.

"Why is 3G not 2G turned off? Because it's a different use, if 2G is voice communication, while 3G is data communication that is slow. The competitor is 4G, which is faster data communication," said Johnny during the event "Digitizing Indonesia: Retrospection 2021 and Outlook 2022 Ministry of Communications and Informatics on the Kemenkominfo TV YouTube channel, recently.

Johnny emphasized that currently 4G signals are the backbone of national telecommunications, and will soon be expanded by building a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in the 3T area.

Currently, in the 3T Region, there are still 12.548 villages or sub-districts which are blank spot areas. Of this number, 3.435 villages or sub-districts in commercial areas are still in the blank spot area, the rest are in the 3T Region.

"Not waiting for the 3G to be turned off, the Ministry of Communication and Information through the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) will build 4G BTS in all 3T areas," said Johnny.

"In fact, we should not be surprised later if high-speed internet is in the 3T Region, and some commercial areas are still using 3G, the speed has decreased," he added.

On the other hand, Telkomsel, the cellular operator who was also asked to turn off 3G immediately, was reluctant to respond more in this regard. General Manager of External Corporate Communication Telkomsel, Aldin Hasyim, said that his party would follow government policies.

"Telkomsel will follow the policies or directives that will be issued by the government, while maintaining and ensuring the fulfillment of service quality," said Aldin to VOI.