Indonesia Achieves Full 5G Connectivity with Launch of High-Speed Network Infrastructure
Jakarta, Sunday, 1 March 2026.
This strategic rollout delivers Indonesia’s first nationwide 5G coverage, boasting certified top speeds of 769 Mbps to accelerate the region’s digital economic transition.
A Milestone in Connectivity
In a definitive move for Southeast Asian telecommunications, ZTE Corporation (0763.HK) and XLSMART officially launched the “XL Ultra 5G+” commercial service yesterday, February 28, 2026, in Surabaya [1][2]. This development marks the establishment of Indonesia’s first nationwide 5G network, utilizing a “Blanket Coverage” strategy to ensure widespread and seamless access [1][2]. The network’s technical capabilities were validated during on-site testing at the launch event, where the infrastructure demonstrated peak downlink speeds of 769 Mbps and average experienced speeds surpassing 500 Mbps [1][2]. Prior to this official launch, the network’s performance had already garnered industry recognition, with XLSMART being certified by Ookla as providing “The Fastest 5G Network in Indonesia” for the second half of 2025 [1][2].
Rapid Infrastructure Deployment
The rollout is underpinned by a massive infrastructure integration effort executed at an accelerated pace. As of January 2026, the partnership had successfully deployed the 5G network across 24 of the 33 targeted cities, spanning five major regions including Surabaya, Semarang, Medan, Makassar, and Balikpapan [1]. To achieve this, ZTE and XLSMART installed over 7,000 new 5G base stations while simultaneously integrating more than 20,000 existing 4G base stations [1][2]. This brings the total distinct base stations optimized in this specific modernization phase to 27000. A key component of this speed was the implementation of the Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN); reports from late February 2026 indicate that the partners completed 92% of the MOCN sites within just eight months, covering over 20,000 sites nationwide to enhance reliability and data throughput [4][5].
Sustainability and Future Operations
The commercial launch coincided with the “XL Ultraverse Festival,” a large-scale music event held simultaneously in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Denpasar, which served as a high-traffic stress test for the new network [3]. During the festival in Surabaya, peak concurrent connected users exceeded 10,000, a load managed effectively using ZTE’s real-time visibility and optimization tools [1]. Beyond connectivity, the event highlighted XLSMART’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Merza Fachys, Director & Chief Regulatory Officer at XLSMART, stated that initiatives such as “Zero Waste to Landfill” are now viewed as foundational to the company’s operational reputation rather than merely supplementary programs [3].