Kendari, 3 February 2022. PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata) continues to support the government's vision of accelerating as well as equitable distribution of telecommunications and data network infrastructure development throughout Indonesia. Especially in Southeast Sulawesi Province, in the past year, XL Axiata has intensively built a 4G network, in the form of more than 16 4G BTS, to remote rural areas that were previously unreachable. Of the total districts in the province, 48% of them or 107 districts, with a total of about 1,200 villages have been served by the 4G network. This initiative is part of the implementation of XL Axiata's commitment to support the government's efforts in Building a Digital Indonesia.
Group Head of XL Axiata East Region, Dodik Ariyanto said, “Data traffic throughout Southeast Sulawesi has increased by 59% in the past year. Therefore, we must continue to build a 4G network, both to improve the quality of service, as well as to expand to areas that are new and have great potential. Along with network development, we also continue to fiberize the network to increase capacity, so that subscriber’s convenience will also increase.”
Dodik added that the existence of a 4G network in villages/urban villages in Southeast Sulawesi is also an implementation of XL Axiata's commitment in helping to increase digital literacy for people who live in remote rural areas. The availability of a quality internet network and increasing digital literacy will encourage productivity and help people to adapt to various means of digital economy.
In addition to the expansion and addition of BTS, XL Axiata also continues to increase its 4G network capacity both in terms of radio and transmission, as well as through fiberization. Until now, the fiber optic network has reached more than 943 km and covers about 64% of BTS. Meanwhile, since the beginning of 2021 until now around 295 BTS has been increased in capacity. During the last year in the shadow of the pandemic, XL Axiata data traffic in Southeast Sulawesi continued to increase by around 12%, with the highest traffic increases in Kendari, Konawe Regency and Muna Regency.
Throughout Southeast Sulawesi, XL Axiata has the most 4G BTS in Kendari City, which is 98 4G BTS. Then followed by Konawe Regency, with more than 40 4G BTS, and Muna Regency with more than 30 4G BTS. For the South Konawe Regency area, there are 27 4G BTS, Bombana Regency 23 4G BTS, and Kolaka Regency with 21 4G BTS.
XL Axiata also ensures good data network quality in several tourist areas and airports and ports. XL Axiata has set up a 4G network at Nirwana Beach in Bau Bau City, Kendari Beach, and Nambo Beach in Kendari City. Meanwhile, for Haluleo International Airport, XL Axiata is ready with 2 BTS 4G and Nusantara Port Kendari 4 BTS 4G.
Currently, the XL Axiata network for the Southeast Sulawesi area is supported by more than 900 BTS, including more than 430 4G BTS. XL Axiata's 4G LTE network also continues to be expanded, and XL Axiata continues to invest in fiber networks, transmission, backhaul, network modernization, and various other network upgrades to improve stability, network capacity, and service quality in line with the continued increase in data service traffic.
Meanwhile, in an effort to support the government's program in providing services and 4G networks in the 3T (frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped) areas, especially in the Southeast Sulawesi region, since 2008 XL Axiata has operated the network through the Universal Service Obligation (USO) scheme which is coordinated by Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI).
To date, there are 21 USO 4G BTS in Southeast Sulawesi spread over three regencies, namely in Konawe Regency, Konawe Islands, and South Konawe. The most USO BTS are in Konawe Regency with 12 4G USO BTS.
Wide selection of XL Axiata products
In addition to building a 4G network, XL Axiata has also prepared a number of product options that can be utilized by the people in Southeast Sulawesi Province to support their productivity.
Currently, there are product promos that subscribers and the public in Southeast Sulawesi can use to access data services on the 4.5G network, namely XL Xtra Combo Lite internet starter pack starting from 9GB - 70GB 30 days and AXIS Big Boy internet starter pack starting from 2GB - 12GB with Bonus for Whatsapp, Line, Gojek, Grab, Facebook, Instagram, Google Maps, Conference & Education to support online learning and working from home. There is also a FREE choice of Unlimited YouTube, Netflix, Vidio, Viu & Iflix packages specifically for subscribers who buy XL Xtra Combo Lite package of 40Gb and above.
To ensure that people and subscribers can easily get XL Axiata products, both XL and AXIS, currently in Southeast Sulawesi Province there are more than 1,200 phone shops that provide XL Axiata products. These shops are spread out to districts and villages that are already covered by XL Axiata services. Through these distribution network stores, subscribers can also get information and also submit complaints, which the store manager will then forward it to XL Axiata customer service, or subscribers can also come to the XL Center which is located at Bunggasi Street No. 28, Kel Anduonohu, Kendari City.