Mobile network operator (MNO) 3 Indonesia (Tri) has successfully completed the deployment of 4G LTE base transceiver stations (BTS) in 70 remote villages spanning the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. IndoTelko cites the MNO’s chief technical officer Desmond Cheung as saying: ‘3 Indonesia has completed the construction of 4G BTS in 70 remote villages faster than our target of end-2021. We will continue to deliver 4G networks in more than 300 other remote villages by 2022. This will help accelerate digital transformation to empower the nation and improve productivity and economic growth of rural communities.’ He went on to note that Sanggau Regency (West Kalimantan) and South Tapanuli Regency (North Sumatra) are among the areas currently connected via an LTE broadband network that covers more than 37,000 villages throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Tri’s rival XL Axiata has confirmed that its 4G LTE network in Bali now blankets a total of 716 villages in 57 sub-districts and nine districts/cities, with CTO I Gede Darmayusa confirming the cellco operates ‘more than 6,600 BTS, of which 2,400 are 4G BTS’ in Bali while the number of 4G BTS ‘will continue to increase considering that currently we are still expanding in all districts in Bali’. In addition, at an educational event the XL official said that the company is starting to introduce 5G to the people in Bali, noting: ‘This event is one of the stages of XL Axiata’s preparation to roll out 5G services commercially and massively later. Together with other important cities, Bali is one of the areas that will be a priority for implementing XL Axiata’s 5G network because Bali is one of Indonesia’s storefronts. Every year millions of domestic and foreign tourists come to Bali, they will judge the comfort of Bali, among others, from the availability of data and internet services. That’s where we can help support the revival of Bali tourism.’