Jakarta, May 22nd 2020, The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia did not stop XL Axiata from continuing to facilitate the communication needs of the credit retail partners in the Greater Jakarta Area with their families back at their hometowns. By organizing the "Virtual Mudik 2020" program. XL Axiata provided more than 1400 data packages containing the 5GB + 5GB XTRA Combo package, 30 days and Unlimited Turbo. The program participants can use the data package to interact with their families and colleagues in their respective hometowns virtually.
Director of Commerce XL Axiata, David Arcelus Oses said, “Following the government's recommendation and policy for no hometown travels, we have adjusted the implementation of communicating and being together virtually. This annual program is a form of our appreciation for retailers who have been assisting us in sales activities of XL Axiata services that continue to run. Due to the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have facilitated by providing a special data package to help fellow retailers to connect and cure homesick with their families and relatives even though this year they cannot return to their hometowns.”
David added that with this virtual homecoming program XL Axiata hopes to be able to support and help the government to urge citizens not to travel to their hometowns just yet, thus helping to prevent the wider spread of the Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia.
In the previous years prior to Eid, through the Mudik Bareng program, XL Axiata routinely facilitates phone credit and product sales partners in the Greater Jakarta Area (Jabodetabek) area to return to their hometowns. Last year, this program was attended by 1,300 participants by deploying 25 units of large buses, 10 units of Innova, and 10 units of Alphard cars.
Various adjustments have been made by XL Axiata due to the Covid-19 pandemic that occurred in Indonesia, which has prevented the routine of returning to the community's hometowns before Eid. The adjustment is related to network readiness or preparation. Steps of network strengthening has been carried out within residential areas, so that during Eid the community can continue to communicate smoothly with their families back home. Network capacity also continues to be increased to anticipate the needs of the public and customers in using more or bigger data services, such as video calls to stay in touch, also to download or send video content.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in Indonesia, XL Axiata has implemented various social programs. This includes launching free 2GB daily data access program to access applications that support work and learning activities from home, government health websites, e-Learning platforms, and university online channels to help customers stay productive.
In addition, donations have also been made in the form of cash and non-cash such as personal protective equipment (PPE), free communication services for Covid-19 mitigation officers/workers, as well as strengthening networks in the areas around the reffered Covid-19 hospitals. The total value of assistance provided both in cash and non-cash amounts to over 100 billion (IDR) for all Covid-19 prevention programs, including providing free data access.