Indonesia’s digital divide narrows with mobile network performance gains

Indonesia’s mobile network performance is undergoing significant improvement, a crucial development for a country with 280 million people. Its vast geography, an archipelago of roughly 19,000 islands, makes mobile connectivity the primary way for people to access the internet. Mobile carriers are thus at the forefront of efforts to bridge the digital divide. This article examines the efforts of KOMINFO and mobile operators to address this connectivity gap.

Key Takeaways

• Nationwide performance is improving equitably, especially for rural and remote communities. Speedtest Intelligence® data shows nationwide median download speeds increased from 17.54 Mbps to 30.5 Mbps from Q2 2022 to Q2 2025. Critically, this progress is also reflected in the lower 10th percentile, where download speeds more than doubled from 2.66 Mbps to 5.69 Mbps.
• Overall regional performance gains show nationwide progress beyond major urban regions. Data from 1H 2022 to 1H 2025 shows a rise in median speeds across all regions of Indonesia. This progress is not limited to top performers like Jakarta and Bali. North Maluku, the lowest-performing region, saw speeds increase substantially from 13.39 Mbps to 20.49 Mbps. This broad-based improvement underscores a concerted effort to enhance network performance across the entire archipelago 
• The 5G rollout is strategic and targeted, contrasting with widespread 4G Availability. While 4G availability now exceeds 90% across all islands , the deployment of 5G is progressing at a more gradual and fragmented pace. 5G availability remains low, with Bali & Nusa Tenggara as a notable outlier at 17%. This strategic, urban-focused approach is a direct result of key challenges such as limited mid-band spectrum and the high cost of infrastructure.

Regulatory action and partnerships drive Indonesia’s mobile network expansion

The projected growth of Indonesia’s digital economy, with estimates reaching  USD 2.8 trillion by 2040, underscores the importance of the telecommunications sector. The sector is recognized as a key enabler of national economic transformation, moving beyond its traditional role as a utility provider. The regulatory body Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital (KOMDIGI) is spearheading Indonesia’s efforts to bridge the digital divide through a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Digital Indonesia Roadmap 2021-2024. This plan prioritizes infrastructure development and collaborations with mobile operators to extend internet access across the entire archipelago, including remote regions.

A central element of KOMDIGI’s approach is the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund, managed by the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI). This fund, financed by operator contributions, facilitates infrastructure projects in underserved areas. BAKTI has overseen significant initiatives like the Palapa Ring national fiber optic network and the SATRIA-1 satellite, which delivers internet to public facilities. Recently, the ministry announced the completion of 6,672 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), further expanding 4G connectivity in remote locations.

Network performance gains in Indonesia confirm progress is reaching rural communities

Speedtest Intelligence® data from Q2 2022 to Q2 2025, show nationwide median download speed increased from 17.54 Mbps to 30.5 Mbps. During the same period, the median upload speed also improved from 10.32 Mbps to 13.93 Mbps. These gains demonstrate a sustained commitment to upgrading networks nationwide.

While median speeds offer a glimpse into a network’s overall capability, examining the performance of the lower 10th percentile – those experiencing the worst 10% of performance samples – provides critical insights into minimum user speeds, representing performance for users with the worst connections, often in less-developed areas. Download speeds for this group increased from 2.66 Mbps to 5.69 Mbps, while upload speeds rose from 1.41 Mbps to 2.0 Mbps. This improvement is particularly significant given Indonesia’s demographics, as 41% of the population resided in rural areas in 2024, according to World Bank data. The consistent gains in the bottom percentile indicate that network enhancements are reaching these rural communities, thereby reducing the connectivity disparity.

Mobile network gains span all regions, bridging geographic divides

A detailed look at Speedtest Intelligence data from 1H 2022 to 1H 2025 confirms a nationwide increase in mobile speeds, with every single region of Indonesia experiencing a rise in median download speeds. While major regions such as Jakarta and Bali recorded the highest speeds, the progress was not limited to top performers. Jakarta reached a median download speed of 41.42 Mbps, an increase of 21.69 Mbps from its 1H 2022 speed of 19.79 Mbps. Bali’s median speed reached 41.31 Mbps, marking a gain of 16.80 Mbps during the same period. For instance, North Maluku, which recorded the lowest median speed in 1H 2022, still saw its median download speed rise substantially from 13.39 Mbps to 20.49 Mbps. This broad-based improvement underscores a concerted effort to enhance network performance across the entire archipelago.

Crucially, this progress is also reflected in the performance of the lowest-performing connections. The data for the lower 10th percentile download speed reveals significant gains, particularly in regions with lower overall speeds. For example, Gorontalo’s lower 10th percentile speed more than tripled, rising from 3.18 Mbps to 9.31 Mbps. The Bangka Belitung Islands also saw a significant jump, with speeds rising from 3.18 Mbps to 7.91 Mbps. These gains are particularly significant as both provinces, along with other improving regions like Papua and North Maluku, are more remote and geographically challenging than major metropolitan regions. The strong improvements in these areas are an indicator that network expansion is effectively targeting and narrowing the digital divide, ensuring that even the most difficult-to-reach communities benefit from Indonesia’s digital evolution.

4G Availability in Indonesia exceeds 90% across all islands

The expansion of mobile speeds is underpinned by a significant increase in 4G Availability across Indonesia’s major islands and island groups. Speedtest Intelligence data from 1H 2023 to 1H 2025 reveals that 4G Availability has improved in every single region. This indicates a concerted effort to ensure that a greater proportion of users can access 4G technology, which is a critical prerequisite for achieving the higher mobile speeds observed across the country and a key enabler for nationwide internet access, particularly since 98.7% of Indonesia’s internet users rely on a mobile devices to get online.

Java island reported the highest availability at 96.4% in 1H 2025, closely followed by Bali & Nusa Tenggara with 95.2%. What is particularly significant is that even regions with historically lower availability, such as Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, have all surpassed the 90% threshold. For example, Sulawesi’s 4G availability rose from 85.8% to 92.1% during this period, while Maluku & North Maluku reached 90.1% by 1H 2025. This broad-based improvement is critical for ensuring equitable access to digital services.

The escalation in 4G availability is a direct result of strategic government initiatives and robust public-private partnerships. KOMDIGI has focused on expanding network infrastructure in remote and underserved areas, often referred to as 3T regions. This includes projects to build Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in locations where commercial operators might not find it economically viable. Simultaneously, major carriers like Telkomsel have made significant investments in their own network expansion programs, strategically targeting these same remote areas to align with and build upon the government’s efforts. This collaborative approach has been a key factor in bridging the digital gap and ensuring that the gains in mobile speed are accessible to a wider population.

Gradual 5G progress reflects a strategic, urban-focused rollout

While Indonesia’s mobile networks have made substantial progress in 4G performance and availability, the development of 5G technology has been more gradual and strategic. Data from 1H 2023 to 1H 2025 illustrates this trend, showing a significant disparity in 5G Availability across the archipelago. The overall availability remains low in all regions, reflecting a highly targeted approach to deployment.

The data shows Bali & Nusa Tenggara as a clear outlier, with 5G Availability surging from 4.4% in 1H 2024 to 17% in 1H 2025. This rapid increase reflects a concentrated rollout in key tourism and business areas. In contrast, major islands like Java and Sumatra show more modest growth, with Java reaching 6.5% and Sumatra at 4.8%. Meanwhile, availability in regions such as Kalimantan, Maluku & North Maluku, and Papua & Western New Guinea remains in the low single digits, confirming that deployment has yet to extend to many parts of the country.

A key challenge to widespread 5G has been the limited mid-band spectrum, which is essential for strong 5G performance. Current 5G spectrum utilization is limited to the 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.3 GHz bands. This challenge is compounded by the high cost of new 5G infrastructure and the continued strength of existing 4G networks. As a result, operators have adopted a strategic, phased deployment that focuses on urban areas with high populations and proven demand.

Indonesia’s major operators have each taken a targeted approach to 5G. Telkomsel, for instance, has established a leading presence by deploying over 2,100 5G sites across 56 cities, with a focus on key urban and industrial centers. Similarly, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has expanded its 5G services to more cities, leveraging network sharing to accelerate deployment. This collective, urban-focused strategy is positioning the technology for future growth as more spectrum becomes available and consumer demand increases

Indonesia’s telecommunications sector is on a trajectory of significant transformation. The ongoing market consolidation, coupled with strategic government interventions and a pragmatic approach to infrastructure deployment, is setting the stage for a more robust and inclusive digital future. We will continue to monitor the expansion of mobile networks in Indonesia  and its regional neighbours. If you are interested in Ookla’s solutions and services for network intelligence and management, get in touch.