Indonesia’s mobile network map is set for another shift as the Ministry of Communication and Digital opens a selection process for users of the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz radio frequency bands. The move is intended to widen coverage, strengthen mobile broadband quality, and support more balanced internet access across the country.
The initiative is also tied to the implementation of the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan and the ministry’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. In practical terms, the government is using additional spectrum as a tool to push faster and more even digital connectivity.
Why these two bands matter
The 700 MHz band offered in the selection covers 703–738 MHz for uplink and 758–793 MHz for downlink. Its total bandwidth reaches 70 MHz, or 2×35 MHz, making it a valuable resource for broader signal reach.
The 2.6 GHz band is also being made available, with a range of 2500–2690 MHz and a total bandwidth of 190 MHz. Together, the two bands are expected to help operators expand data capacity while also improving network coverage in areas where demand continues to grow.
The government views the combination as strategically important because each band serves a different role. The 700 MHz band is associated with reach, while 2.6 GHz is better suited to adding capacity in high-traffic areas.
What winners will be required to deliver
Winning participants will not only obtain access to the spectrum. They will also be bound by construction and operational commitments set by the government.
One of the main obligations is to provide mobile broadband services using at least Long Term Evolution, or 4G, in designated villages or urban wards. The requirement is designed to ensure that the new frequencies do not benefit only major growth centers.
Selected operators must also provide services based on International Mobile Telecommunications-2020, or 5G, in cities or regencies as determined by the minister. This framework is meant to accelerate the spread of modern network services across more regions.
Payment rules and financial guarantees
The selection also comes with financial obligations. Winners must pay the up-front fee and continue paying the annual frequency usage fee, known as BHP spektrum frekuensi radio.
In addition, selected participants are required to submit a payment commitment guarantee for the annual frequency use permit fee, or IPFR, until the permit period ends. The structure is intended to ensure that obligations are fulfilled consistently throughout the use of the spectrum.
This arrangement gives the government greater certainty in managing a strategic public asset. It also reinforces orderly and sustainable frequency administration.
Technical interference remains a key concern
Alongside commercial and deployment considerations, the ministry is also placing strong emphasis on managing technical interference. Winners must prevent and address harmful interference so that new use of the spectrum does not disrupt other services.
For the 700 MHz band, the main concern is possible interference with digital television receivers that use signal amplifiers. For the 2.6 GHz band, attention is focused on radio stations used for radiolocation, including meteorological services in the 2700–2900 MHz range, as well as special telecommunications systems in the S-band.
That technical layer shows that the selection is not only about allocating more spectrum. It is also about maintaining disciplined frequency governance so expansion can proceed without creating new problems in adjacent bands.
A wider push for digital access
The ministry says the selection process will be handled with transparency, accountability, and legal certainty. Those principles are meant to make the allocation process credible for industry while supporting a healthy business environment.
At the same time, the extra spectrum is being framed as part of a broader effort to strengthen the national digital economy. With wider frequency resources, telecom operators are expected to speed up connectivity expansion and improve the quality of mobile internet services in more areas.
As data demand keeps rising, the opening of the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz selection signals a more assertive push toward networks that are broader, more stable, and better prepared for modern digital services.
Source: www.beritasatu.com-
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