The phaseout is still being reviewed because there are still several areas in Indonesia that do not have 4G Internet access, Utama informed here on Tuesday.
"The 3G network can already be served by 4G services. If both co-exist, it will be superfluous for the operator. However, we also have to look at which areas (still need 3G connections)," he explained.
Utama cited data showing that 70,870 of 83,218 villages in Indonesia already have 4G networks. Meanwhile, 12,548 villages do not have 4G services, he added
Moreover, at least 9,113 villages are located in Indonesia's outermost, remote, and underdeveloped (3T) regions and the rest 3,435 are non-3T, he pointed out.
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Currently, 3G Internet access is still being provided in areas that are not served by 4G, he informed.
"If the 4G network is not available yet, that means they still need 3G, and it will be maintained until 4G reaches those regions," he explained.
Meanwhile, cellular operator Telkomsel's GM of network strategic roadmap, Christian G. Gustiana, said that the transition from 3G to 4G is necessary because many users are not comfortable accessing the Internet using 3G services.
"We have to do it. It is inevitable because the users are no longer comfortable. It is an improvement that needs to be made," Gustiana stressed.
Earlier, Minister of Communications and Informatics, Johnny G Plate, had asked mobile operators to gradually discontinue 3G networks.
"3G is slow in data communication but 4G is faster. I ask 3G to be gradually phased out and changed into 4G," Plate said.
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Translator: Fathur R, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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