Jakarta, April 18, 2024. PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata) observed a rise in data usage during the Ramadan and Idul Fitri 1445 H holidays in Sumatra, spanning from April 4, 2024, to April 14, 2024. Data sourced from the Customer Experience & Service Operation Center at XL Axiata Tower, Jakarta, indicates a 11% increase in data service usage throughout Sumatra compared to regular days preceding Ramadan. The highest traffic spike occurred in Asahan, North Sumatra, reaching 28%. This surge is closely linked to individuals' enthusiasm to return to their hometowns and enjoy the holiday festivities during Eid.
I Gede Darmayusa, Director & Chief Technology Officer of XL Axiata, stated, "We, at XL Axiata, express our gratitude for being able to deliver optimal service to our customers during this extended Eid holiday. We meticulously prepared our network well in advance, implementing various precautionary measures to ensure seamless operations. Our dedicated network team, including field personnel, remained on high alert throughout the critical period, poised to address any issues promptly. As we predicted, there was a notable surge in data traffic during this holiday period, particularly in accessing video streaming services via social media, underscoring people's enthusiasm for sharing joyous moments. The overall traffic increase exceeded 16%. Furthermore, we observed dynamic patterns of people's movements between different regions, reflecting the vibrant nature of holiday travel."
Meanwhile, Desy Sari Dewi, the Group Head for XL Axiata's West Region, noted that the rise in traffic across Sumatra during the Eid 2024 period coincided with increased mobility as people took advantage of the holiday. Throughout this period, XL Axiata successfully maintained network quality with minimal reports of disruptions.
The notable increases in XL Axiata's traffic across various districts and cities in Sumatra during Eid 2024 were as follows:
Several popular tourist destinations in Sumatra also saw a surge in traffic ranging from 25% to 458%, reflecting the increasing number of visitors during the Eid holiday. Notably, the Lake Toba area, designated as a Super Priority Tourist Destination, experienced a 30% increase in traffic compared to regular days. Additionally, various airports and seaports across provinces witnessed traffic increases ranging from 38% to 125%. The Trans Sumatra Toll Road, connecting numerous cities, saw an average traffic increase of up to 185%.
Gede further remarked that on a national scale, the utilization patterns of various data services by XL Axiata customers during the Eid holiday illustrates the increasing reliance of Indonesians on digital resources for their daily needs. Throughout Ramadan and Eid, streaming dominated service traffic, comprising 59%, followed by web browsing at 18%, and social media at 15%. On these streaming services, several applications experienced notable surges in usage traffic. Game-based services saw an average traffic increase of up to 135%, while YouTube experienced a 17% rise, TikTok 14%, Netflix 42%, and Spotify 23%.
For Instant Messenger services, traffic via WhatsApp increased by 59%. Meanwhile, on Social Network platforms, X traffic rose by 25% and Meta (Facebook) by 15%. Web browsing experienced a 20% uptick, while online shopping via e-commerce surged by a remarkable 650%. Mapping services like Google Maps and Waze were extensively utilized by travelers, witnessing an increase of approximately 154% compared to regular days.
Analyzing by region, the national surge in service traffic during Ramadan and Eid compared to typical days was notable in various provinces:
At the municipal level across Indonesia, the most notable increases in traffic were observed in the following areas:
Regarding service traffic in the Jabodetabek area, there was a decrease during Eid compared to regular days, with a decline of 7%. This reduction aligns with the significant level of customer relocation during the Eid period. XL Axiata's monitoring data reflects a customer movement rate from the Jabodetabek area to other provinces at around 30%.
Throughout the Eid holiday period, XL Satu convergence service traffic remained relatively steady compared to regular days, as some customers chose not to travel back home. Meanwhile, the most frequently accessed services by XL SATU customers were as follows:
Currently, the total number of XL SATU customers has exceeded 235 thousand home connects.
In order to ensure network readiness and meet customer demands for comfort during this year's Eid period, XL Axiata has doubled its network capacity compared to regular days. Continuous network monitoring procedures are in place, with 94 mobile BTS deployed to enhance network quality in areas requiring additional support.
By the end of 2023, catering to over 12 million customers across Sumatra, XL Axiata's network is bolstered by approximately 37 thousand BTS (Base Transceiver Stations). The bulk of these stations are 4G-enabled, serving approximately 7 thousand villages/sub-districts and 152 cities/districts spread across 10 provinces. Concurrently, the fixed mobile convergence (FMC) network has extended its reach to 16 cities/districts and is slated for further expansion.
On a nationwide scale, XL Axiata serves over 57 million customers and is backed by a network of more than 160 thousand BTS, predominantly 4G-enabled. Additionally, a fiber optic backbone network spanning over 159 thousand kilometers supports data connectivity across much of the expansive Indonesian archipelago. XL Axiata remains committed to investing in fiber networks, transmission, backhaul, and network modernization to bolster stability, enhance network capacity, and elevate the quality of data services amidst escalating data traffic.