One of Indonesia’s largest telecommunications companies, Telkomsel, has confirmed that it will be expanding its Hyper 5G network coverage in Bali.
The news comes as Indonesian leaders commit to improving digital connectivity and internet speeds nationwide to ensure the country’s global leadership in digital development.
In a press interview, the Marketing Director of Telkomsel, Derrick Heng, confirmed that the company is focusing its 5G expansion in two important areas of Bali, Denpasar City and Badung Regency.
Badung Regency is home to many of Bali’s most popular tourist resorts, including Nusa Dua, Kuta, Uluwatu, Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, and Jimbaran.
These two areas have been chosen for their high potential in tech development and a high number of internet users both in the residential and tourist demographics.
Heng explained, “We want to ensure that Bali, as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, can enjoy a 5G experience that meets international standards.”
He added, “With 5G, we hope to open up more opportunities for progress in Bali, both in the tourism, business, and public service sectors.”
The expansion plan has been driven by the rising number of medium, small, and micro enterprises in these areas of Bali and the increasingly high use of international roaming services due to the ever-increasing number of tourists in these regions of the province.
Telkomsel has already implemented 67 5G points in Denpasar City and 136 points around Badung Regency. This totals 225 Hyper 5G points in the south of Bali alone, with more to be implemented in the near future. As it stands, there is consistent 5G coverage throughout Kuta, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and Sanur.
Indra Mardiatna, the Network Director for Telkomsel, told reporters, “We are committed to ensuring that this high-speed internet experience can be enjoyed evenly without interruption in Bali.”
And it is not only the coverage that Telkomsel is focused on improving but also affordability. In addition to the Tourist SIM packages that are hugely popular with short-term visitors to the island, Telkomsel is also increasing the affordability and the size of its internet and data packages.
The Super Seru 5G Package provides twice the data quota as the baseline offering, with prices starting at IDR 60,000 for 50 GB.
Mardiatna outlined that this offer is specifically designed to encourage the exploration and use of 5G technology by Balinese people and visiting tourists.
Telkomsel has confirmed that they will continue to roll out 5G coverage into many more locations across Indonesia, with equal focus on industrial and residential areas, as well as priority tourism destinations as outlined by the Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economies, such as Lake Toba, Lombok, and Labuan Bajo as the gateway to the world-famous Komodo National Park.
The increased 5G availability in resort areas like Canggu, Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Kuta has been mirrored by telecoms company Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson up in Ubud.
Just last week, the Head of Technology for Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson, Yose Navirianto, spoke with reporters about the opening of the new base transceiver station in central Ubud.
Located within the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, the new base transceiver station helps improve signal coverage in the arts and culture capital.
Navirianto told reporters, “Our tower in Monkey Forest is part of the Padangtegal Traditional Village area, so the traditional village can use its signal in addition to strengthening the village community, as well as tourism.”
Ubud was arguably the first digital nomad hub in Bali, but as areas like Uluwatu and Canggu have grown, more and more tech developers, digital entrepreneurs, remote workers, and digital nomads have moved to the coast to make the most of the work-life balance on offer in the province.
Coworking spaces in Ubud like Beluna and Ubud Coworking, as well as the plethora of welcoming cafes and coffee shops, still welcome many of the nomadic creatives into the community.
Source: https://thebalisun.com/rollout-of-balis-5g-network-focused-on-tourism-hotspots/