Gov't in No Haste to Develop 5G Network

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government stated it would take its time to provide the fifth generation of internet network frequency or 5G network in Indonesia.

“We will [provide] it at the right time,” said the Director-General of Resources and Equipment of Post and Information Technology (SDPPI), Ismail, after the opening event of the 25th meeting of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Wireless Group, in Tangerang, Banten, Monday, July 1.

According to him, the advanced digital cellular network should not have to be ready too soon in the country as the technology was still in the development stage in the world.

“But we won’t be too long [to provide it], so Indonesia will not be left behind other countries in the application," Ismail added.

The government, he went on, would tap the latest network at least after the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) that was slated to take place in Egypt in October 2019.

Read: 5G to Go Live in Indonesia October 2019

This year, the government, along with a number of communities including telecommunication operators, formed a special team to prepare the advanced network service.

“The group talks about the economic aspect in implementing the 5G frequency,” he said, adding that it would be done through the best business model applicable by operators.

When asked about Indonesia’s preference for the current developing ecosystem of 5G over 4.5G, Ismail asserted that the country preferred the best ecosystem.

“By opting for this 5G ecosystem, the investment costs from operators to develop the service would be more efficient,” Ismail concluded.

ANTARA