Jakarta, March 2, 2020. PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata) organized the "DigiRace 2020” digital competition outside of Java, held simultaneously in Pekanbaru (Riau), Pontianak (West Kalimantan), and Manado (North Sulawesi), last week. The same competition also took place in Bogor and Cimahi, West Java. Participated in by social media activist, this competition also showcased the quality improvement of XL Axiata data network after undergoing fiberization in the five cities.
(Plt) Chief Technology Officer XL Axiata, I Gede Darmayusa said, “We continue to carry out network fiberization program, which has now reached even more regions, especially outside of Java. We intentionally organized the fourth Digirace competition in three main cities outside Java, in Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, to show XL Axiata’s determination in improving its data service quality while also preparing for implementation of 5G service in the future."
Technically, Gede explained, fiberization is a network modernization effort done by by connecting Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) though fiber, as well as updating BTS by replacing devices that relied on microwave with those using fiber. Network fiberzation program is one step in preparing for 5G network. The benefits of 5G technology can only be obtained if the sites or BTS are connected through fiber. XL Axiata has been undergoing this program in large scale across all of Indonesia since the last three years.
As of now, XL Axiata network fiberization has been completed in all provincial capitals in Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, as well as major cities, particularly areas where the data growth makes fiber network a necessity. Nationally, until the end of 2019, around 50% BTS have been connected to fiber network. Fiberization will continue until it reaches a target of 70% of BTS by the end of 2020. Fiberization is currently being accelerated outside of Java due to very rapid growth of data traffic during the last year.
Gede said the ongoing fiberization has been proven to be improving the quality of XL Axiata’s 4G data service. Through this “DigiRace 2020”, XL Axiata hopes to let consumers to directly see the improved, more stable data network quality made possible by fiberization.
The competition’s participants must complete a series of challenges consisting of quizzes streamed through YouTube. There are also games that make use of other social media platforms such as Spotify, Instagram, and Netflix. The type of challenge involves engaging in digital activities to test the quality of network after fiberization. All challenges require participants to access data-intensive services such as streaming, downloading and uploading files, and playing games.
By inviting influential social media personalities, or more commonly known as key opinion leader (KOL), to take part as participants, XL Axiata aims to show and convince the public in general of its continuous effort to fulfill customers’ expectation, by providing quality data service capable of supporting their productive activities. The company hopes this continuing activity would provide more input for the improvement of XL Axiata service quality in the times ahead.
XL Axiata is currently serving more than 56 million customers, supported by network infrastructure spread in all corners of Indonesia, utilizing more than 130.000 BTS, including more than 54.000 3G BTS and more than 40.000 4G BTS, and more than 45 thousand km of fiber optic network spanning and connecting the various regions and islands in Indonesia. XL Axiata 4G service is present in more than 425 municipalities/ regencies in Indonesia.