4G LTE subscriber base reaches 5 million
Indonesian telecoms operator Telkomsel announced its 4G LTE network currently reaches 100 cities across the country.
The telco has already deployed more than 4,500 base stations in in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua.
Telkomsel reported that total subscribers in the 4G segment currently reach approximately 5 million. The company aims to reach 12 million 4G subscribers by the end of this year.
The operator said that the city of Ambon, in the Maluku province, was the latest city to be covered with LTE technology. Telkomsel has deployed 29 base stations in this city and expects to install a total of 373 new base stations across the entire Maluku region.
The telco also said that it is working to expand its LTE network infrastructure in capital Jakarta and Bandung.
Telkomsel was Indonesia’s first mobile operator to launch 4G in late 2014, using the 900 MHz band. The company also offers LTE services through the 1800 MHz band since July 2015.
Telkomsel is a subsidiary of local telecoms group Telkom Indonesia. Telkomsel currently has a market share of approximately 46% in the local mobile telephony market in terms of subscribers.
Korean mobile operators submit applications for mobile auction
In other APAC news, Korean mobile operators SK Telecom, KT Corp and LG Uplus have reportedly filed their applications to participate in the country’s upcoming spectrum auction.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) confirmed that it will soon start a reviewing process of the applicants. The ministry also said that the bidding process will start later this month.
A total of five blocks in the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands are included in the auction which is expected to raise at least KRW2.6 trillion ($2.3 billion) in total.
KT currently offers LTE in the Asian nation through mobile spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands. Meanwhile, SK Telecom offers the service via the 850 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands while LG Uplus has spectrum in the 850 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands for the provision of 4G LTE technology.