Komdigi Reveals Challenges in Launching 6G Internet in Indonesia

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – To enter the 6G era, Indonesia still faces one major challenge: insufficient network spectrum.

Adis Alifiawan, Director of Radio Frequency Spectrum Arrangement, Satellite Orbit, and Digital Infrastructure Standardisation at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), explained that 6G networks require spectrum with a capacity of 200 MHz.

At present, however, no single frequency band can meet this requirement. The government recently auctioned frequencies at 700 MHz (70 MHz capacity) and 2.6 GHz (190 MHz capacity).

“The largest is the 2.6 GHz band we are auctioning now, at 190 MHz. That falls short of 200 MHz. So for 6G, it is not enough even for a single operator,” Adis said at a Mastel seminar and workshop in Jakarta on Thursday (9/7/2026).

He said 6G networks need far more room, and capacity must therefore follow suit.

“If we compare 6G with 2G — if 2G is like a motorbike, 3G is like a bajaj, 4G is like a small low-cost car, and 5G is like an SUV, then for 6G we need a Hummer. So if we want a big car, the garage must be big too,” he explained.

“If we want to bring 6G traffic in, we must have the spectrum as its garage, and it has to be large as well,” he added.

To that end, new frequencies need to be released. The most ideal release, he said, would be in the mid-band. In his view, releasing low-band frequencies is impossible because their bandwidth is small and their coverage is short.

Mid-band networks for 6G would have several benefits, including supporting the development of AI. “If we want AI usage to keep growing, we need 6G,” he said.

“Moreover, even without new use cases such as AI, existing use cases alone — with the growing demand from other use cases — will generate a need for mobile connectivity. At some point, the public will experience congestion and will need additional capacity,” Adis explained.