Number of mobile subscribers in Indonesia 2019, by provider

In 2019, Telkomsel's subscriber count amounted to approximately 171 million. In that year, Telkomsel had more subscribers than its rivals, Indosat and XL Axiata. In Indonesia, it is common to use more than one SIM card, which is why the number of total subscribers might not necessarily correspond to the total number of actual customers.

Indonesian telecoms market overview

The aforementioned mobile operators account for a significant share of the proceeds generated by the services provided by the telecommunications industry. Unlike countries in the Asia-Pacific such as Australia and Japan which have introduced 5G networks, Indonesia is currently proliferating 4G coverage across the nation, a precedent to the imminent rollout of 5G services. The market is fairly mature with approximately 100 thousand towers growing at a rate of three to five thousand new towers every year, which subsequently contributes to the positive forecast of the 4G network development in the country.

Influence of customer demands

The telecommunications industry in Indonesia is competitive by virtue of its maturity. Competitive pricing and offering of unlimited local call and text services characterize the current state of the market. With users preferring extensive coverage and affordable prices, the mobile network providers have launched plenty of options to suit the custom needs of the user. The availability of low-cost devices that allows the increase in the number of smartphone users in Indonesia and the expanse of the internet has significantly furthered the need for sound telecommunications infrastructure.