Strategi Telkomsel Hadirkan 5G Lancar Meski Frekuensi Terbatas

Telkomsel’s strategy in optimizing the 5G network

Telkomsel, one of the largest cellular operators in Indonesia, has a mature strategy to ensure their 5G network runs optimally and can be enjoyed comfortably without interruption. One of the technologies used is Non-Stand Alone (NSA), which is an important part of the Telkomsel network architecture.

Director of Network Telkomsel, Indra Mardiatna, explained that NSA technology allows companies to use the core of the 4G network as the basis for operating the 5G network. Thus, Telkomsel can combine the 4G and 5G spectrum for maximum 5G network download speed.

“With NSA technology, we can combine the 4G and 5G spectrum so that the download speed of Telkomsel’s 5G network can be maximized,” said Indra at the “5G Coverage Expansion Bandung” event which was held at Wheels Coffee & Roasters, Bandung, Monday (21/7/2025).

Indra added that Telkomsel’s 5G download speed ranges from 500-600 Mbps, with an average of 100-200 Mbps. This speed is considered optimal enough to meet customer needs.

In addition, the use of NSA technology is also one way to provide super fast 5G services (Hyper 5G) although there is a frequency limitation for 5G. Technically, Telkomsel’s 5G frequency is currently on the 2,300 MHz spectrum (N40). Here, they utilize a bandwidth of 30 MHz for 5G networks, while the rest (20 MHz) are used for 4G networks.

Indra admits that 5G services will be more ideal if they have a bandwidth of 100 MHz. However, through NSA technology, Telkomsel is able to “help” 30 MHz to 5G bandwidth with 20 MHz bandwidth available for 4G networks.

5G network development in Indonesia

In the future, Telkomsel will continue to develop a 5G or Hyper 5G network in Indonesia to make it more optimal and ideal. This will certainly depend on the provision of a new spectrum by the government and other factors related to optimizing the 5G network.

Three Frequency Layer for 5G Service

To deploy 5G services in the country, three frequency layers are needed, namely:

• Upper band (upper band): Located at 26 GHz
• Middle band (middle band): Located at the frequency of 2.6 GHz
• Lower band (lower band): Located at 700 MHz – 800 MHz

The 700 MHz spectrum has the advantage of a wide range, reaching a radius of over 5 sq km, but its capacity is relatively small. While the frequency of 2.6 GHz has a larger capacity, although the range is narrower. The 26 GHz spectrum has a very large capacity and high speed, but the range is getting narrower.

The 2.6 GHz frequency was previously used for broadcasting via satellites such as Indovision. This spectrum license will expire in 2024. After that, the spectrum will be transferred to 5G services.

Meanwhile, the 700 MHz frequency was previously used for analog television broadcasts. After the closure of analog television broadcasts (Analog Switch Off/ASO), there is a bandwidth allocation of 112 MHz at a frequency of 700 MHz. Of these, only 90 MHz will be auctioned for four cellular operators, so that each operator gets an average of 22.5 MHz.

At the frequency of 26 GHz, there is a bandwidth allocation of 2.7 GHz. At the end of 2024, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) plans to hold an auction for three frequencies that will be used for 5G services. The initial plan for the auction will be carried out in the middle of the year, but until now there has been no new information regarding the frequency auction for 5G.