Telkomsel added approximately 5,900 4G radio base stations in Q4 2018 to expand its 4G mobile data coverage in Indonesia.
Telkomsel revealed that it has 189,100 radio base stations till the end of December. 73 percent of its radio base stations are dedicated for 3G / 4G base transceiver stations providing nationwide coverage in Indonesia. Telkomsel did not reveal its Capex in 2018.
Bob Apriawan, director of Network of Telkomsel, is responsible for network technology selection and investment related initiatives. Montgomery A Hong is the director of IT at Telkomsel. Ririek Adriansyah is the president Director of Telkomsel since 2015.
Telkomsel had exhibited several use cases of its 5G technology application during the Asian Games 2018.
Telkomsel has already received a Communications and Information Ministry permit to install its 5G network on the 28 GHz band. But Telkomsel is yet to launch commercial 5G services in the country.
Telkomsel in 2017 announced Indonesia’s first FDD Massive MIMO demonstration in association with Huawei. The demonstration achieved 5 times capacity of traditional FDD LTE 2×2 MIMO. Telkomsel has around 20 million 4G subscribers.
Telkomsel said its operating revenue for the fourth quarter was stable. Telkomsel achieved 20 percent growth in data and digital services. Telkomsel reported 26 percent decline in voice and SMS revenues.
Telkomsel’s EBITDA in the fourth quarter was stable with higher operation and maintenance costs from accelerated deployment of 4G network and increased administrative expenses offset by lower marketing expenses. Compared to the preceding quarter, EBITDA increased 3 percent with 2 percent growth in operating revenue.
Telkomsel’s mobile customer base fell 4.8 million from a quarter ago, and 33 million from a year ago, to 163 million including 107 million of data customers as at 31 December 2018 on churns as a result of the mandatory SIM card registration exercise.