Boosting Indonesia's Digital Speed: Everything You Need to Know About the 2.6 GHz Frequency Auction

The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is officially shifting gears to accelerate the nation's digital connectivity. In a strategic move to address the lagging internet speeds across the archipelago, the ministry is preparing to auction the 2.6 GHz frequency band. This specific spectrum is widely considered the 'sweet spot' for boosting mobile broadband performance and expanding the currently limited 5G footprint.

What Exactly is the 2.6 GHz Frequency Band?

To put it simply, think of frequency bands as the 'traffic lanes' for wireless signals. Whether it is your mobile data, WiFi, or television broadcasts, they all travel through these invisible lanes. The 2.6 GHz band is a mid-band spectrum that offers a perfect balance. While lower frequencies like 700 MHz are great for covering vast distances and penetrating walls, they lack the 'width' to carry massive amounts of data. On the other hand, the 2.6 GHz band provides a wider lane, allowing more data to flow through at much higher speeds.

This frequency is particularly ideal for densely populated urban areas, business districts, and university campuses. While its physical reach is shorter than low-band signals, its high capacity makes it the backbone of high-speed 4G and 5G services in cities where thousands of users are connected simultaneously.

Why Indonesia Needs This Boost

It is no secret that Indonesia has some catching up to do when it comes to regional internet speeds. According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index from October 2025, Indonesia's average mobile download speed sits at approximately 36.9 Mbps. When you look at our neighbors, the gap is glaring: Malaysia has reached 89 Mbps, while Singapore is soaring above 110 Mbps.

Opening the 2.6 GHz band is not just about faster social media scrolling; it is about national competitiveness. Komdigi has emphasized that additional radio frequency bands are critical to improving the user experience and ensuring Indonesia can compete in the global digital economy. The 2.6 GHz band offers a substantial 190 MHz of bandwidth using Time Division Duplex (TDD) technology, which boasts the second-largest device ecosystem globally for 4G and 5G.

Foundations for a Future-Ready Ecosystem

Beyond just speed, this frequency serves as the foundation for the broader 5G ecosystem. By providing high data capacity and low latency, the 2.6 GHz band is the key to unlocking advanced technologies that were previously impractical. This includes the development of smart cities, Internet of Things (IoT) integrations, autonomous vehicles, and high-performance cloud computing.

According to GSMA Intelligence, more than 80 countries have already deployed this band for their 4G and 5G networks. Its ability to provide massive data capacity without interfering with existing services makes it a reliable choice for operators looking to upgrade their infrastructure.

The Roadmap: Auction and Implementation

Following the completion of the 1.4 GHz frequency auction, Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid has confirmed that the 2.6 GHz auction is the next big priority. Currently, 5G coverage in Indonesia is still in its infancy, reaching only about 10% of the population since its launch in mid-2021.

Minister Meutya stated that the auction is targeted to open by the end of 2025. While the selection process will begin late this year, the ministry expects the entire process to be finalized in 2026. "If everything goes smoothly, the auction will conclude next year, and the impact of the infrastructure build-out will be felt by the public starting in 2026," she explained during the FEKDI x IFSE 2025 event in Jakarta.

By empowering cellular operators with this spectrum, the government hopes to deliver a higher quality of broadband connectivity that will finally put Indonesia on par with its regional peers.