Active and Leading Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Indonesia

Indonesia Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) Overview
Indonesia’s telecommunications market is one of the largest in the world, with over 355 million mobile cellular subscriptions as of 2024, making it the third-largest cellular market globally, behind India and China. The market is dominated by four major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs): Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XL Axiata, and Smartfren. Below is a detailed analysis of each MNO, covering ownership, technologies, services, frequency bands, subscribers, market share, APN, and customer care contacts.
1. Telkomsel
Company Ownership

• Parent Company: PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) is owned by:
  • PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom): 69.9% (state-owned Indonesian telecommunications company).
  • Singtel: 30.1% (Singapore-based telecommunications company).
• Headquarters: South Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Background: Founded in 1995, Telkomsel is the largest MNO in Indonesia and serves as the consumer services arm of Telkom, integrating fixed broadband services like IndiHome since July 2023.

Key Technologies and Services

• Technologies Deployed:
  • GSM: 2G services on 900/1800 MHz (being phased out in favor of 4G/5G).
  • 3G: UMTS/HSPA on 2100 MHz (gradually phasing out as 4G/5G expands).
  • 4G LTE: Available nationwide with over 94% city coverage, using LTE-Advanced technology.
  • 5G: Launched in June 2021, available in select cities (e.g., Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Surabaya, Makassar, Balikpapan) with ongoing expansion.
• Primary Service Offerings:
  • Voice: Traditional voice calls and VoLTE (Voice over LTE) for 4G/5G networks.
  • Data: High-speed mobile internet with data-centric plans, unlimited data packages, and bundled OTT services (e.g., streaming via partnerships).
  • SMS: Messaging services, though declining due to OTT apps like WhatsApp.
  • Mobile Money: Offers T-Cash (rebranded as LinkAja), a mobile payment platform in collaboration with other Indonesian telcos.
  • Other Services: IoT solutions, enterprise services, and fixed broadband (via IndiHome integration).
• Notable Achievements: Telkomsel won the OpenSignal Video Experience award in December 2023 with a score of 61.4/100, reflecting strong on-demand video streaming quality.

Active Frequency Bands

• 2G: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz (GSM).
• 3G: 2100 MHz (UMTS).
• 4G LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1), 2300 MHz (Band 40).
• 5G NR: 2300 MHz (Band n40), with plans to utilize 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands post-spectrum auctions.
• Note: Telkomsel is refarming spectrum (e.g., 1800 MHz) to enhance 4G/5G capacity, as the 3.5 GHz band is not yet fully available for 5G due to spectrum constraints.

Number of Active Mobile Subscribers

• Subscribers: Approximately 158 million active mobile subscribers as of September 2023.
• Historical Data: Reported 169.5 million subscribers in 2020, indicating a slight decline due to market saturation and competition.

Market Share

• Revenue-Based Market Share: Approximately 62.8% of mobile subscription provider revenue in 2022.
• Subscriber-Based Market Share: Estimated at ~44% in 2023, reflecting its dominant position despite a highly competitive market.

Access Point Name (APN)

• Standard APN: internet
• Alternative APN: telkomsel (used for specific configurations).
• Configuration: Typically set as internet for most devices to access mobile data services.

Customer Care Contacts

• Phone: 188 (for Telkomsel customers, free for postpaid, charged for prepaid), +62 811 1888 811 (international/overseas).
• Email: cs@telkomsel.com
• Website: www.telkomsel.com
• Social Media: Active on X (@telkomsel), Instagram, and Facebook.
• Live Chat: Available via the MyTelkomsel app or website.
• Physical Stores: Telkomsel GraPARI centers located nationwide (e.g., GraPARI Jakarta, Surabaya).

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2. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
Company Ownership

• Parent Company: PT Indosat Tbk (Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison) is owned by:
  • Ooredoo Group: 65% (Qatar-based telecommunications company).
  • CK Hutchison Holdings: ~21% (Hong Kong-based conglomerate).
  • Public and Other Shareholders: ~14% (traded on the Indonesia Stock Exchange).
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Background: Formed by the merger of Indosat Ooredoo and Hutchison 3 Indonesia in 2022, creating a stronger competitor to Telkomsel.

Key Technologies and Services

• Technologies Deployed:
  • 2G: 900/1800 MHz (GSM, being phased out).
  • 3G: 2100 MHz (UMTS, phasing out).
  • 4G LTE: Nationwide coverage with LTE-Advanced, covering over 90% of urban areas.
  • 5G: Launched in 2021, available in cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Bali. Expanded 5G BTS count significantly from 2021 to 2023.
• Primary Service Offerings:
  • Voice: Voice calls and VoLTE for 4G/5G networks.
  • Data: Data-focused plans with competitive pricing, unlimited data packages, and OTT bundles (e.g., streaming services).
  • SMS: Messaging services, less prominent due to OTT apps.
  • Mobile Money: Offers Dompetku and collaborates with OVO for digital payments.
  • Other Services: Enterprise solutions, IoT, and cloud services.
• Notable Achievements: Received the Global Rising Star for Video Experience award from OpenSignal in 2020, with a 2023 Video Experience score of 59.3/100.

Active Frequency Bands

• 2G: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz (GSM).
• 3G: 2100 MHz (UMTS).
• 4G LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1).
• 5G NR: 1800 MHz (Band n3), 2300 MHz (Band n40). Limited by the unavailability of the 3.5 GHz band for 5G.
• Note: Indosat is actively refarming 1800 MHz for 5G and awaiting 700 MHz/26 GHz auctions.

Number of Active Mobile Subscribers

• Subscribers: Approximately 100 million active mobile subscribers as of September 2023.
• Historical Data: Served over 60 million subscribers in 2020, with growth post-merger.

Market Share

• Revenue-Based Market Share: ~20% in 2022 (estimated based on industry reports).
• Subscriber-Based Market Share: Estimated at ~28% in 2023, making it the second-largest MNO.

Access Point Name (APN)

• Standard APN: indosatgprs
• Alternative APN: indosat3g (for legacy 3G services).
• Configuration: indosatgprs is the default for most mobile data connections.

Customer Care Contacts

• Phone: 185 (for postpaid customers), 100 (for prepaid customers), +62 815 5500 185 (international).
• Email: cs@indosatooredoo.com
• Website: www.indosatooredoo.com
• Social Media: Active on X (@IndosatOoredoo), Instagram, and Facebook.
• Live Chat: Available via the myIM3 app or website.
• Physical Stores: Indosat Ooredoo service centers (e.g., Jakarta, Bandung).

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3. XL Axiata
Company Ownership

• Parent Company: PT XL Axiata Tbk is majority-owned by:
  • Axiata Group Berhad: 66.4% (Malaysia-based telecommunications conglomerate).
  • Public and Other Shareholders: ~33.6% (listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange).
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Background: Founded in 1989, XL Axiata is a key player in Indonesia’s telecom market, focusing on data-centric services.

Key Technologies and Services

• Technologies Deployed:
  • 2G: 900/1800 MHz (GSM, being phased out).
  • 3G: 2100 MHz (UMTS, phasing out).
  • 4G LTE: Extensive 4G coverage with LTE-Advanced, covering urban and regional areas.
  • 5G: Trials conducted, with commercial 5G services in select cities (e.g., Jakarta, Bali) as of 2023.
• Primary Service Offerings:
  • Voice: Voice calls and VoLTE.
  • Data: Affordable data plans, unlimited data packages, and OTT partnerships (e.g., Netflix, YouTube).
  • SMS: Messaging services, declining in usage.
  • Mobile Money: Collaborates with DANA for digital payments.
  • Other Services: Enterprise connectivity, IoT, and cloud-based solutions.
• Notable Achievements: XL Axiata’s 4G network supports over 58 million subscribers, with a focus on regional expansion.

Active Frequency Bands

• 2G: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz (GSM).
• 3G: 2100 MHz (UMTS).
• 4G LTE: 900 MHz (Band 8), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1).
• 5G NR: 1800 MHz (Band n3), with plans for 2300 MHz and 700 MHz post-spectrum availability.
• Note: Limited 5G deployment due to spectrum constraints (e.g., 3.5 GHz band).

Number of Active Mobile Subscribers

• Subscribers: Approximately 58 million active mobile subscribers as of September 2023.
• Historical Data: Subscriber base grew steadily from 2013 to 2024.

Market Share

• Revenue-Based Market Share: ~10% in 2022 (estimated).
• Subscriber-Based Market Share: Estimated at ~16% in 2023, ranking third among MNOs.

Access Point Name (APN)

• Standard APN: internet
• Alternative APN: xlunlimited (for specific unlimited plans).
• Configuration: internet is the default for most devices.

Customer Care Contacts

• Phone: 817 (for XL customers), +62 21 5795 9817 (general inquiries).
• Email: customercare@xl.co.id
• Website: www.xl.co.id
• Social Media: Active on X (@XLaxiata), Instagram, and Facebook.
• Live Chat: Available via the myXL app or website.
• Physical Stores: XL Center outlets in major cities (e.g., Jakarta, Surabaya).

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4. Smartfren
Company Ownership

• Parent Company: PT Smartfren Telecom Tbk is owned by:
  • Sinar Mas Group: Majority stakeholder (Indonesian conglomerate).
  • Public and Other Shareholders: Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Background: Smartfren shifted from CDMA to 4G LTE in 2014, focusing on data services. A proposed merger with XL Axiata was announced in April 2024 to create a USD 3.5 billion entity.

Key Technologies and Services

• Technologies Deployed:
  • 2G/3G: None (Smartfren operates exclusively on 4G LTE since 2014).
  • 4G LTE: Nationwide coverage using LTE-Advanced, available in over 200 cities.
  • 5G: Trials conducted, with limited commercial rollout in Jakarta and other cities as of 2023.
• Primary Service Offerings:
  • Voice: VoLTE-based voice services (no legacy 2G/3G voice).
  • Data: Affordable data plans, unlimited data packages, and OTT integrations.
  • SMS: Limited SMS services, overshadowed by data-driven communication.
  • Mobile Money: Partners with Gopay and OVO for digital payments.
  • Other Services: Enterprise solutions and IoT services.
• Notable Achievements: First in Indonesia to launch LTE-Advanced in 2015.

Active Frequency Bands

• 4G LTE: 850 MHz (Band 5), 2300 MHz (Band 40).
• 5G NR: 2300 MHz (Band n40), with trials on 850 MHz.
• Note: Smartfren’s reliance on 2300 MHz limits 5G performance due to spectrum congestion; awaiting 700 MHz/3.5 GHz auctions.

Number of Active Mobile Subscribers

• Subscribers: Approximately 36 million active mobile subscribers as of September 2023.
• Historical Data: Reported 10.1 million subscribers in 2018, showing significant growth.

Market Share

• Revenue-Based Market Share: ~5% in 2022 (estimated).
• Subscriber-Based Market Share: Estimated at ~10% in 2023, the smallest among the four major MNOs.

Access Point Name (APN)

• Standard APN: smartfren4g
• Alternative APN: internet (for specific configurations).
• Configuration: smartfren4g is the default for 4G data access.

Customer Care Contacts

• Phone: 888 (for Smartfren customers), +62 881 1223 344 (general inquiries).
• Email: customercare@smartfren.com
• Website: www.smartfren.com
• Social Media: Active on X (@smartfrenworld), Instagram, and Facebook.
• Live Chat: Available via the MySmartfren app or website.
• Physical Stores: Smartfren Galleries in major cities (e.g., Jakarta, Bandung).

Market Context and Trends

• Market Size: The Indonesia telecom market was valued at USD 17.08 billion in 2024, expected to reach USD 18.12 billion in 2025 and USD 23.97 billion by 2030 (CAGR of 5.76%).
• 5G Development: Indonesia lags behind neighbors like Singapore and Malaysia in 5G adoption due to spectrum shortages (e.g., 3.5 GHz band). The government is actively refarming spectrum and planning auctions for 700 MHz and 26 GHz bands.
• Digital Transformation: Increasing smartphone penetration, affordable data pricing, and OTT services (e.g., streaming, VoIP) drive data consumption. Operators are focusing on B2B 5G services, potentially adding USD 8.2 billion in revenue by 2030.
• Regulatory Environment: The Ministry of Communication and Informatics oversees telecommunications, with efforts like the Palapa Ring project enhancing connectivity in remote areas.

Notes

• Subscriber Data: Subscriber numbers are dynamic and may vary slightly based on reporting periods. The figures provided are the most recent available as of September 2023.
• Market Share Estimates: Subscriber-based market shares are derived from reported subscriber counts relative to the total 354 million mobile connections in January 2023. Revenue-based shares are from 2022 data.
• Frequency Bands: 5G deployment is limited by spectrum availability, particularly the 3.5 GHz band. Operators rely on 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz for 5G, with plans to expand post-auction.
• Customer Care: Contact details are subject to change; users are advised to verify via official operator websites or apps.

This overview provides a comprehensive snapshot of Indonesia’s leading MNOs, reflecting their critical role in one of the world’s largest and most dynamic telecom markets.