Government Bans Cross Channel Operator Aggregation

Ilustrasi (dok)

JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Rudiantara confirmed that he has not yet allowing cross-frequencies channel aggregation.

The statement was made following the LTE Advanced technology is identical with the aggregation channel (carrier aggregation / CA).

This technology allows the frequency owned operator, both of which are in the same frequency bands or different, can be combined into one channel.

"If the aggregation is done in the same band or ownership, it does not matter, as long as the frequency is neutral. That's what Smartfren has done. But if cross-operator, it's called sharing the frequency, there are no regulation for it yet," said Rudiantara to IndoTelko.

Smartfren is the first operator to implement the Advanced LTE which consisting the frequency of 850 MHz and 2.3 GHz. FREN issuers with stock code can use 10 MHz in the 850 MHz and 30 MHz at 2.3 GHz.

XL Axiata has done a trial on Advanced LTE technology by utilizing the 1,800 MHz and 2.1 GHz frequencies, which resulted that the internet to speed up to 295 Mbps. At that time, XL was waiting for the Channel Aggregation signal by the government in allowing the application for GSM operators.

Currently Bolt! stated that they have already applied the channel aggregation to target smartphone users who have been equipped with LTE technology Category 6 (Cat 6) which in theory could experience the internet access speeds of up to 301 Mbps.

By entity, Internux as Bolt! trademark owners has a width of 15 MHz frequency. Channel aggregation can be done most likely with its affiliates First Media, which also has a 15 MHz at 2.3 GHz.

First Media is indeed the owner of a majority stake in PT Mitra Mandiri Mantap Internux which is the parent company of the Bolt! brand holder.

"Channel Aggregation cannot be done although they are affiliated, because they are in different entity, this is similar to Telkom Flexi and Telkomsel. Telkom had to revert the 900 MHz to the government, and then it is allocated to Telkomsel. I'll check this information in the field later," said Rudiantara. (es)