Indosat, part of the Ooredoo Group, has launched a new UMTS 900MHz network that will provide a faster and modernised Internet experience to Indonesians.
With this, Indosat has become the first telecommunication operator to commercially operate a UMTS 900MHz network in Indonesia after an initial trial in West Sumatra in September last year. It marks another significant network evolution delivered by one of Ooredoo’s companies, which are conducting major modernisation programmes in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
The UMTS 900MHz network, named the IM3 Super Internet Service, will offer packaged mobile broadband services with stronger signals, both outdoor and indoor, as well as  wider network coverage and faster Internet access
Indosat’s modernisation programme will initially launch in Bali, which was chosen as the first area to implement the service because of the island’s popularity as a world tourism destination and the high demand for reliable communication and data services.
At the launch, Indosat president director & CEO Alexander Rusli said: “We are very excited to be the first telecommunication operator in Indonesia to deliver faster access to quality data services using the UMTS 900MHz network. Supported by the latest technology, these services will provide Indosat’s customers in Bali with the very best user experience. We are committed to the Network Modernisation Programme that we have pledged to roll out across the country and will continue to look for ways to upgrade the user experience across Indonesia.”
Internet has become an important part of Indonesian life in recent years and been instrumental in the country’s economic and social development, besides ensuring connectivity with the rest of the world. Of the country’s 248mn population, 55mn - or 22% - were Internet users in 2012, 18% of whom regularly used major social media networks.
Following the successful trials of the 900MHz UMTS in Padang, Bukittinggi and West Sumatra in 2012, Indosat’s Network Modernisation Programme will continue installing the IM3 Super Internet Service across Indonesia, including Jabotabek (Greater Jakarta) and other major cities in Java.  
Indosat’s launch of the 900MHz UMTS network in Bali aligns with the company’s selection as the sole provider of telecommunication facilities for the APEC 2013 event, currently taking place in Bali, the benefits of which will be enjoyed by Indosat’s customers and visitors to the island.
Ooredoo is working to deliver the most relevant technologies to meet the needs of its customers. The company already provides 4G LTE services in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait and is adding additional network resources for 2G and 3G customers across its international footprint.