Surabaya, CNBC Indonesia - XLSmart has recently acquired the 2.6 GHz\nfrequency spectrum from an official auction announced some time ago.<\/p>\n
This frequency will be utilised to accelerate the expansion of the 5G\nnetwork, which began implementation in early August.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially, we are investing so heavily with the new spectrum we\nhave acquired, it is going straight on. As of 5 August, we were given\npermission to turn on the new spectrum,\u201d said Shurish Subbramaniam,\nDirector and Chief Technology Officer of XLSmart, during the XLSmart\nMedia Gathering in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (4\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Within approximately three weeks, the company subsequently activated\nthe 2.6 GHz spectrum across all its 5G sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithin 3 weeks, everything was turned on. All 5G sites on the 2.6\nGHz network are now active,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The company now aims to have 5G services available in 101\ncities\/regencies by the end of 2026, an increase from its previous\ntarget of 88 cities\/regencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have agreed to expand to 101 cities. New cities, such as Lombok\nand Malang, will be activated before the end of this year. This\nexpansion will continue into next year,\u201d said Shurish.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, Merza Fachys, Director and Chief Regulatory\nOfficer of XLSmart, stated that the company does not want 5G development\nto focus solely on specific isolated points.<\/p>\n
According to him, once a city is declared to have 5G services, the\ncompany aims for more comprehensive coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not just placing 5G patches merely to claim that we have 5G.\nBut truly, 5G and 4G must exist at the same level,\u201d said Merza.<\/p>\n
As of the first semester of 2026, XLSmart\u2019s 5G services have been\npresent in more than 50 cities.<\/p>\n
The network is supported by approximately 15,000 5G Base Transceiver\nStations (BTS), with a national population coverage of around 23\npercent.<\/p>\n
Merza noted that the initial target of 88 cities\/regencies by the end\nof the year is expected to reach more than 50 percent of the\npopulation.<\/p>\n
XLSmart has also increased its 2026 capital expenditure (capex)\nguidance from Rp15 trillion to Rp20 trillion.<\/p>\n
This investment will be used to support the operation of more than\n265,000 BTS, the expansion of 5G, and the utilisation of the new\nspectrum.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/xlsmart-expands-5g-network-after-winning-frequency-auction-1788530217", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }