Indonesia Approves Transfer of 2.3 GHz Radio Frequency Spectrum Rights to Smart Telecom

INTI,-The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) has evaluated a joint application by PT Telekomunikasi Selular and PT Smart Telecom to transfer some of the radio frequency spectrum (SFR) usage rights on the 2.3 GHz radio frequency band from PT Telekomunikasi Selular to PT Smart Telecom.

Denny Setiawan, Director of Resource Arrangement at the Directorate General of Resources and Post and Informatics Equipment of the Ministry of Kominfo, stated that the Minister of Kominfo, Johnny G. Plate, has approved the transfer of the radio frequency spectrum rights after evaluating the application.

"Regulation allows the holder of Radio Frequency Band (IPFR) license for telecommunications networks to transfer the rights to use radio frequency spectrum to other telecommunications network operators," he explained in Central Jakarta on Thursday (27/04).

Denny Setiawan explained that this is in accordance with Article 71 number 5 of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning the Determination of Government Regulation Substituting Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law, which amended the provisions in Article 33 of Law Number 36 of 1999 concerning Telecommunications, and further elaborated in Article 55 of Government Regulation Number 46 of 2021 concerning Posts, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting.

"In accordance with the provisions of Article 57 of Government Regulation Number 46 of 2021 concerning Posts, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting, a thorough evaluation has been carried out in accordance with the provisions set forth in the relevant Government Regulation and several provisions set forth in the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning the Use of Radio Frequency Spectrum," he explained.

Based on the evaluation, on April 18, 2023, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology approved the partial transfer of radio frequency spectrum usage rights on the 2.3 GHz radio frequency band from PT Telekomunikasi Selular to PT Smart Telecom.

"The evaluation was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. The approval was made through a Ministerial Decree," said the Director of Resource Arrangement at the Directorate General of Resources and Post and Informatics Equipment of the Ministry of Kominfo.

According to Denny Setiawan, a portion of the 2.3 GHz radio frequency band held by PT Telekomunikasi Selular has been assigned to PT Smart Telecom for mobile network operation purposes effective from April 18, 2023, without changing the expiration date of the Radio Frequency Band License (IPFR) previously established.

With the approval of the transfer of radio frequency spectrum usage rights, the condition of using the 2.3 GHz radio frequency band after refarming becomes more optimal as the bandwidth becomes uniform nationally across all service areas for both mobile network operators using the 2.3 GHz radio frequency band.

"This condition also minimizes the potential for harmful interference to the cellular network of both operators because there are no longer co-channel frequency conditions in several zones that border directly," explained the Director of Resource Arrangement at the Directorate General of Resources and Post and Informatics Equipment of the Ministry of Kominfo.

Furthermore, Denny Setiawan stated that the transfer will provide benefits, including improving the quality of cellular networks (4G/5G) for internet access and 5G use cases, especially in the areas served by the transferred radio frequency spectrum rights.

"This is especially true for residents of Sumatra Island, Kalimantan Island, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, and South Sulawesi Island, where the service area for the transferred radio frequency spectrum rights is located," he said.***.Hans