Indonesia Awards 260 MHz of 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz Spectrum to XLSMART, Telkomsel and Indosat
Indonesia has completed a major national spectrum assignment covering the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands, providing the country's three mobile network operators with additional resources for 4G expansion and accelerated 5G deployment.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Komdigi, formally confirmed PT XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, PT Telekomunikasi Selular and PT Indosat Tbk as the successful participants in the 2026 selection process. The final ministerial decisions were issued on 21 July 2026 after the electronic price auction, spectrum block selection and objection period had been completed.
All 260 MHz made available through the process was assigned. The auction covered 70 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band and 190 MHz of TDD spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band, giving operators a combination of low-band coverage resources and substantially larger mid-band capacity.
Indonesia 2026 Spectrum Auction Results
| Operator | 700 MHz Allocation | 2.6 GHz Allocation | Total New Spectrum | Total Winning Bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera Tbk | 30 MHz (2 × 15 MHz) | 50 MHz | 80 MHz | Rp1.2918 trillion |
| PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) | 20 MHz (2 × 10 MHz) | 80 MHz | 100 MHz | Rp1.18834 trillion |
| PT Indosat Tbk | 20 MHz (2 × 10 MHz) | 60 MHz | 80 MHz | Rp879.48 billion |
Telkomsel secured the largest overall amount of additional spectrum with 100 MHz, while XLSMART and Indosat each obtained 80 MHz. The composition of the holdings differs significantly, however, with XLSMART taking the largest block of valuable 700 MHz coverage spectrum and Telkomsel receiving the largest allocation in the 2.6 GHz capacity band.
700 MHz Auction: XLSMART Secures the Largest Low-Band Allocation
The 700 MHz component of the auction covered the 703–738 MHz uplink range paired with 758–793 MHz for downlink. A total of 2 × 35 MHz, or 70 MHz of spectrum when both sides of the FDD allocation are counted, was offered through three nationwide blocks.
XLSMART ranked first in the 700 MHz price auction and secured the largest available block, consisting of 2 × 15 MHz. Its winning price was Rp35.34 billion per MHz, producing a total bid of Rp1.0602 trillion.
Telkomsel obtained one of the two remaining 2 × 10 MHz blocks at a price of Rp32.125 billion per MHz, corresponding to a total bid of Rp642.5 billion.
Indosat received the final 2 × 10 MHz allocation. Its bid was Rp25.374 billion per MHz, giving the company a total 700 MHz bid of Rp507.48 billion.
| 700 MHz Ranking | Operator | Bandwidth | Bid per MHz | Total Bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XLSMART | 30 MHz (2 × 15 MHz) | Rp35.340 billion | Rp1.0602 trillion |
| 2 | Telkomsel | 20 MHz (2 × 10 MHz) | Rp32.125 billion | Rp642.5 billion |
| 3 | Indosat | 20 MHz (2 × 10 MHz) | Rp25.374 billion | Rp507.48 billion |
Together, the successful 700 MHz bids amounted to approximately Rp2.21018 trillion.
Why the 700 MHz Band Matters for Indonesia
The 700 MHz spectrum is particularly important for a country with Indonesia's geography. Lower-frequency signals generally travel farther and provide stronger indoor penetration than higher-frequency mobile spectrum, making the band suitable for extending network coverage across less densely populated regions as well as improving service inside buildings.
Komdigi has positioned the band as an important tool for reducing remaining mobile broadband coverage gaps. Its combination of wide-area propagation and compatibility with modern mobile networks allows operators to expand both 4G and 5G services without depending exclusively on substantially denser higher-frequency deployments.
The spectrum also complements the much larger 2.6 GHz allocation, creating a two-layer strategy in which 700 MHz can strengthen geographic reach while 2.6 GHz supplies additional network capacity in areas with heavier traffic.
2.6 GHz Auction: Telkomsel Takes the Largest Capacity Block
The second component of the 2026 process covered the complete 2500–2690 MHz range. A total of 190 MHz was offered nationally using Time Division Duplexing, divided into blocks of 80 MHz, 60 MHz and 50 MHz.
Telkomsel ranked first and obtained the largest allocation of 80 MHz. The operator offered Rp6.823 billion per MHz, resulting in a total bid of Rp545.84 billion.
Indosat ranked second and secured 60 MHz at Rp6.2 billion per MHz, corresponding to a total bid of Rp372 billion.
XLSMART received the remaining 50 MHz block at a price of Rp4.632 billion per MHz, producing a total bid of Rp231.6 billion.
| 2.6 GHz Ranking | Operator | Bandwidth | Bid per MHz | Total Bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telkomsel | 80 MHz | Rp6.823 billion | Rp545.84 billion |
| 2 | Indosat | 60 MHz | Rp6.2 billion | Rp372 billion |
| 3 | XLSMART | 50 MHz | Rp4.632 billion | Rp231.6 billion |
The combined bids for the complete 190 MHz of 2.6 GHz spectrum reached approximately Rp1.14944 trillion.
Telkomsel Receives the Largest Overall Spectrum Package
When the two bands are combined, Telkomsel emerged from the selection with the largest amount of newly assigned spectrum. Its 20 MHz of paired 700 MHz spectrum and 80 MHz at 2.6 GHz provide 100 MHz of additional frequency resources.
The structure gives Telkomsel both a new low-band coverage component and a considerably wider mid-band allocation for network capacity. The 80 MHz block at 2.6 GHz is the largest single spectrum block awarded to any operator in the process.
Telkomsel's total winning bids across the two bands amounted to Rp1.18834 trillion.
XLSMART Strengthens Low-Band Position with 2 × 15 MHz at 700 MHz
XLSMART acquired 80 MHz of new spectrum in total, consisting of the largest 700 MHz allocation and 50 MHz at 2.6 GHz.
The company's 2 × 15 MHz low-band holding is particularly significant because it gives XLSMART half of each 35 MHz side of the 700 MHz mobile allocation released through the 2026 process. This provides substantial additional coverage-oriented spectrum alongside the operator's existing frequency portfolio.
Across both auction categories, XLSMART submitted winning bids totaling approximately Rp1.2918 trillion, the highest combined bid value among the three operators.
Indosat Adds 80 MHz Across Coverage and Capacity Bands
Indosat also obtained a total of 80 MHz of additional spectrum. Its package combines 2 × 10 MHz in the 700 MHz band with 60 MHz at 2.6 GHz.
The two allocations provide complementary characteristics: the lower band can support wider-area coverage while the 60 MHz TDD block provides additional capacity for high-traffic mobile broadband and 5G deployments.
Indosat's winning bids totaled Rp879.48 billion across the two bands.
All 260 MHz Offered in the Auction Was Assigned
| Band | Frequency Range | Duplex Mode | Total Spectrum Offered | Spectrum Assigned | Licence Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 MHz | 703–738 MHz UL / 758–793 MHz DL | FDD | 70 MHz (2 × 35 MHz) | 70 MHz | Nationwide |
| 2.6 GHz | 2500–2690 MHz | TDD | 190 MHz | 190 MHz | Nationwide |
| Total | - | - | 260 MHz | 260 MHz | Nationwide |
The complete allocation distinguishes the Indonesian process from auctions in which substantial quantities of spectrum remain unsold. All three available blocks in each frequency band were taken by the three qualified mobile network operators.
Ten-Year Nationwide Spectrum Rights
The spectrum rights issued through the 2026 selection have a validity period of 10 years and apply nationally.
Successful operators are required to pay the applicable spectrum usage fees, including the initial licence fee and the annual spectrum licence fee for the first year. They must also provide the required payment guarantee for the second-year annual licence fee.
Following the ministerial decisions of 21 July 2026, these financial obligations were required to be completed within 10 working days.
Winning Bids Total Approximately Rp3.36 Trillion
The direct winning bids across both auction categories total approximately Rp3.35962 trillion.
| Band | Winning Bid Total |
|---|---|
| 700 MHz | Rp2.21018 trillion |
| 2.6 GHz | Rp1.14944 trillion |
| Total | Rp3.35962 trillion |
This auction-bid total should be distinguished from the broader government revenue projections associated with the new licences. Komdigi estimates that the spectrum assignment could generate approximately Rp6 trillion in non-tax state revenue during the initial stage and around Rp29.9 trillion over the full ten-year period.
The larger projection incorporates the wider spectrum licensing and annual fee framework rather than representing the price auction alone.
Operators Must Bring 4G Connectivity to 538 Villages and Urban Communities
The 2026 allocation combines spectrum rights with mandatory network development commitments. Successful operators are required to provide at least 4G mobile broadband service in 538 designated villages and urban communities distributed across Indonesia, including areas extending from Sumatra to Papua.
The obligation is intended to improve connectivity in locations that currently have no mobile broadband coverage or experience weak signal availability.
Komdigi expects the additional connectivity to support access to digital government services, healthcare, education and economic opportunities while reducing disparities between better-connected urban centres and underserved regions.
5G Must Reach at Least 51% of Indonesia's Population by Year Five
The spectrum awards also contain a significant 5G rollout requirement. Successful operators must provide IMT-2020 5G services covering at least 51% of Indonesia's population by the fifth year.
This obligation gives the 2026 spectrum assignment a direct role in expanding Indonesia's 5G footprint beyond the comparatively limited deployments that characterised the country's initial phase of fifth-generation mobile service.
The combination of 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz gives operators different technical options for meeting this objective. Low-band resources can contribute to broader population coverage, while the substantially wider 2.6 GHz allocations provide the capacity needed for higher-speed services and increasing traffic demand.
Indonesia Targets 100 Mbps Average Mobile Broadband Speed by 2029
The spectrum programme is also linked to Indonesia's broader national connectivity targets under the 2025–2029 development framework.
Komdigi aims to progressively raise average mobile broadband speeds from approximately 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps by 2029. The regulator considers the combination of 700 MHz coverage spectrum and 2.6 GHz capacity spectrum an important part of the infrastructure needed to support that objective.
The target places emphasis not only on expanding geographic coverage but also on improving the capacity and quality available to customers already connected to mobile networks.
New Connectivity Will Support More Than 1,000 Education Locations
The 538 locations covered by the rollout obligations are also expected to support Indonesia's education digitalisation programme. According to Komdigi, the additional mobile signal will reach more than 1,000 locations targeted for digital learning initiatives.
Improved mobile broadband availability is intended to reduce connectivity constraints affecting schools and learning environments in remote areas, while providing the network capacity required for wider use of digital educational resources.
Interference Mitigation Requirements Apply to Both Bands
The new frequency rights also include technical coexistence obligations.
For the 700 MHz band, operators are required to mitigate harmful interference affecting digital television receivers, particularly installations using signal amplifiers.
For the 2.6 GHz band, operators must take appropriate measures to protect radiolocation systems operating in neighbouring spectrum. These include meteorological radiolocation stations in the 2700–2900 MHz range and S-band radiolocation facilities used for specialised telecommunications purposes.
These requirements are designed to allow the newly assigned mobile spectrum to be deployed while protecting existing radio services operating in adjacent frequency ranges.
Indonesia 2026 Spectrum Selection Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 23 April 2026 | Komdigi officially opens selection for 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum |
| 29–30 April 2026 | Prospective participants obtain e-Auction accounts |
| June 2026 | XLSMART, Indosat and Telkomsel qualify for the price-auction stage |
| 7 July 2026 | Electronic price auction conducted |
| 8–10 July 2026 | Spectrum block, block-position and rollout-obligation selection |
| 10 July 2026 | Selection rankings and bid results announced |
| 14 July 2026 | Objection period concludes without challenges |
| 21 July 2026 | Ministerial decisions formally establish the successful operators |
Final Ministerial Decisions Confirm All Three Operators
Following completion of the objection period without any challenges to the published results, the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs formally established the winners on 21 July 2026.
The 700 MHz assignments were confirmed through Ministerial Decisions No. 314/2026 for XLSMART, No. 315/2026 for Telkomsel and No. 316/2026 for Indosat.
The 2.6 GHz awards were confirmed separately through Ministerial Decisions No. 317/2026 for XLSMART, No. 319/2026 for Indosat and No. 320/2026 for Telkomsel.
The decisions made the results final and binding, moving the process from competitive selection into the implementation and licensing phase.
Summary of Indonesia's 2026 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz Spectrum Auction
| Operator | 700 MHz | 2.6 GHz | Total New Spectrum | Combined Winning Bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLSMART | 2 × 15 MHz | 50 MHz TDD | 80 MHz | Rp1.2918 trillion |
| Telkomsel | 2 × 10 MHz | 80 MHz TDD | 100 MHz | Rp1.18834 trillion |
| Indosat | 2 × 10 MHz | 60 MHz TDD | 80 MHz | Rp879.48 billion |
Outlook for Indonesia's 4G and 5G Networks
The 2026 allocation substantially increases the spectrum available to Indonesia's three national mobile operators and introduces two complementary resources into their network portfolios.
The 700 MHz band provides operators with new low-frequency spectrum suitable for extending coverage and improving indoor connectivity, while the much wider 2.6 GHz allocation creates additional capacity for areas where growing data traffic places greater demands on existing networks.
The impact of the spectrum assignment will extend beyond network capacity alone. Mandatory 4G deployment in 538 underserved communities and a requirement to reach at least 51% of the national population with 5G within five years link the licences directly to Indonesia's wider connectivity objectives.
With all 260 MHz successfully assigned and ten-year nationwide rights now established, the focus moves from the auction process to network implementation. The speed at which XLSMART, Telkomsel and Indosat deploy the additional spectrum will determine how quickly the new capacity translates into broader coverage, higher mobile broadband speeds and expanded 5G availability across Indonesia.
Full spectrum allocation details for Indonesia are available here: https://www.spectrum-tracker.com/Indonesia