Mastel Proposes Indonesia Begin 6G Adoption Preparations Now

The Indonesian Telematics Society (Mastel) Chairman Sarwoto Atmosutarno believes Indonesia needs to start preparing the foundation for 6G cellular network technology development, given that the adoption rate of 5G services is still relatively low compared to several other countries. According to him, this is a momentum to prepare for 6G adoption. “If 5G is sluggish, jumping to 6G is not a problem. Just leap. It depends on future market needs and the economics,” Sarwoto said when met after the National Seminar & Workshop themed “National Strategic Value of ICT from Upper 6GHz Spectrum Allocation for 5G-Advanced and 6G Mobile Broadband in Indonesia” in Jakarta on Thursday. “If we do not plan properly, suddenly the international environment will be ready, while we are just starting to prepare,” he said. Sarwoto explained that efforts to prepare for 6G do not mean sidelining the development of 5G networks, which are still growing. “If the highway is already there, it will later depend on what technology you want to use on top of it. It could be 5G, or it could later develop directly to 6G,” he said. He added that network development by telecommunications operators will still consider aspects of market demand and business feasibility. In addition, Sarwoto assessed that another challenge is the lack of 5G utilisation in various industrial sectors. According to him, the adoption of new technology will only develop if it can provide added value for businesses and the public.