JAKARTA – Availability of radio frequency spectrum will encourage 5G network more widely available in Indonesia. Therefore, it is hoped that Indonesia will have more radio spectrum, so that it can help encourage the 5G ecosystem and experience.
“We hope there will be more radio frequency spectrum available,” said Head of Ericsson Indonesia, Jerry Sopper, during a webinar on 5G, Wednesday (6/10/2021).
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Three Indonesian cellular operators have held 5G network for commercial since the middle of this year. Each uses a radio frequency spectrum of 2.3 GHz (Telkomsel) and 1.8 GHz (Indosat Ooredoo and XL Axiata).
The radio frequency spectrum is divided into three layers, namely the lower (low-band), middle (mid-band) and high (high-band or millimeter wave band) layers.
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The lower layer frequency spectrum is below 1GHz, has building penetration and has a relatively wide range.
The middle layer or middle-band is in the 1GHz to 6GHz range, the three cellular operators in Indonesia use this layer to roll out commercial 5G.
The top layer is above 6GHz, capable of producing very large transmission capacities thanks to the also large bandwidth.
The characteristics of each layer of the frequency spectrum are different. In general, the lower the spectrum, the wider the range.
Meanwhile, in terms of capacity, the higher the frequency spectrum, the greater the capacity it has.
The radio frequency spectrum used for 5G in Indonesia is currently only the middle layer. After deploying 5G, according to Sopper, cellular operators will try to improve network capabilities so that they can accommodate more data traffic.
“If it had more spectrum, it would help deploy 5G a little bit faster,” said Sopper.
