Heaptalk, Jakarta — Following a successful merger, XL Axiata and Smartfren have officially formed a new entity, PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk (XLSmart), which will commence operations on April 16, 2025.
“Starting April 16, we will operate as a single company,” said Rajeev Sethi, President Director of XLSmart, in an official press release on Tuesday (March 25).
Despite the merger, the three existing brands—XL, Smartfren, and Axis—will remain available in the market under the newly formed company.
“Our mission is clear: to enhance Indonesia’s digital economy by accelerating economic transition. Through quality services, we aim to provide robust connectivity and drive innovation,” Sethi added.
Under the merger agreement, Axiata Group Berhad and Sinarmas will be joint controlling shareholders, each holding a 34.8% stake in XLSmart. The merger deal, valued at US$6.5 billion, maintains XL as a corporate entity, while Smartfren and SmartTel consolidate under PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk.
Sethi highlighted that one key advantage of the merger is the significantly improved spectrum availability. “Currently, we have access to 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, and 1,200 MHz, totaling approximately 90 MHz of spectrum,” he stated.
With this enhanced spectrum capacity, XLSmart expects to accommodate increasing customer data consumption while improving network coverage and user experience.
“We now have greater flexibility, particularly in enhancing customer experience and expanding network reach,” Sethi remarked.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is set to hold a frequency auction this year, offering three radio frequency bands: 1.4 GHz, 2.6 GHz, and 700 MHz. Will XLSmart participate in the bidding process?
“Regarding upcoming spectrum availability, we are evaluating the frequencies that best align with our objectives of enhancing customer experience and expanding coverage. We will assess each opportunity and are certainly interested in participating in the auction,” Sethi concluded.
