Telkomsel, Indosat, and XLSmart Set to Compete for New Revenue Streams

The auction of the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands has entered the administrative evaluation phase for participants. The results of this process will be officially announced shortly. Previously, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) conducted a clarification process on the substantive conformity of documents from the three telecommunications providers that submitted applications to participate in the selection. It was noted that there were several remarks on the documents for each participant based on the examination results. Komdigi, in an official statement, explained that the administrative evaluation stage is carried out using two main mechanisms. One is the examination of the completeness of the participation application documents to ensure all formal requirements are met. The other is the verification of administrative documents, aimed at checking the validity and conformity of the documents submitted by participants. Participants declared to have passed the administrative stage are entitled to proceed to the next stage, whilst those who do not pass are disqualified. “We are fully committed to carrying out all stages of this selection by prioritising the principles of transparency, legal certainty, and accountability,” stressed Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid in an official statement. The selection process for the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequencies has been underway since 23 April 2026. Three domestic mobile operators are confirmed to be participating in the auction process: PT XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, PT Indosat Tbk, and PT Telekomunikasi Seluler. This auction is a fundamental step towards achieving equitable, high-quality internet access for all citizens. It is hoped that the additional spectrum will encourage mobile network operators to accelerate infrastructure deployment, increase mobile broadband access speeds, and expand coverage to underserved areas. Meutya also explained that frequency spectrum is a limited natural resource, yet it possesses extraordinary potential to drive the advancement of the digital economy. “Through this transparent and accountable selection process, we want to ensure the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands can be optimised to deliver more equitable and high-quality internet access for all Indonesians, especially in boosting digital economy productivity across various sectors,” Meutya stated.