Telkomsel partnered with Ericsson to optimize its mobile network in Medan, Indonesia through the Golden Cluster project. They focused on improving app coverage rather than traditional KPIs. This led to significant improvements in network performance metrics and increased subscriber numbers and revenue for Telkomsel in the Medan area. Telkomsel plans to expand these optimization programs to other regions.

1. SUCCESS STORY
TELKOMSEL, INDONESIA
A GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY
Ericsson and Telkomsel take an innovative approach
to network optimization by understanding app
coverage rather than traditional KPIs

2. Improving
app coverage
CUSTOMER PROFILE
Telkomsel represents the largest share of the
telecommunications market in Indonesia and
is also ranked among the top mobile operators
in the world. The company provides network
coverage for over 95 percent of Indonesia,
with around 134 million subscribers. In 2006,
Telkomsel brought the first 3G network to
Indonesia, and currently the company also
offers GSM Dual Band GPRS, Wi-Fi and
EDGE technology.
www.telkomsel.com
Medan, located on the northern
coast of Indonesia, is the capital
of the North Sumatra province. It
is the fourth most populated city
in the country, boasting a large
number of mobile broadband
users and a high density of
buildings. Competition between
operators is fierce, and as the
market leader, Telkomsel needed
to ensure it was providing the best
mobile broadband service to its
customers in order to stay on top.
Telkomsel customers reported
problems with accessibility and
download speed. Looking to
improve the customer experience,
Telkomsel partnered with Ericsson
to carry out an optimization program
known as the Golden Cluster.
The program was conducted
in the Medan city area over six
months. Telkomsel’s Network
and Engineering Project Group
and Ericsson worked closely
with each other to ensure the
project ran smoothly. Together, they
defined the timeline of the program,
the optimum user experience, and
the necessary improvements to
the network to achieve this.
Understanding users
Ericsson and Telkomsel took an
innovative approach to the network
design – by understanding app
coverage rather than traditional
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Andrias Indra, VP ICT Network
Management, Sumatra Area PT,
Telkomsel, explains the reasoning
behind this: “Sometimes KPIs
show that the network is working
well, but it does not reflect on the
user experience. So we decided
to use a different method.”
The project started by assessing
the accessibility, capacity, and
quality of the network. User
experience tests and detailed
analysis of the network
performance were carried out to
understand issues. A wide range
of optimization activities including
parameter optimization, antenna
tilting, and hardware, capacity
and feature improvements
were executed in the network
to address bottlenecks. One of
the main aims was to improve
coverage in crowded places,
such as shopping centers and
schools, and during peak times.
With full support from Telkomsel,
Ericsson delivered and optimized the
networks according to user needs.
By combining local and global
expert knowledge with the right tools
and products, such as Ericsson
RAN Analyzer and AIR, the network
performance and user experience
were drastically improved.
Test time
Following the network
improvements, Telkomsel assessed
the network by carrying out tests
on activities that users normally
perform, such as accessing
YouTube and downloading files
over the internet. The results
were compared with data from
before Ericsson’s Golden Cluster
project, and showed improvements
in download speeds. “We also
did a benchmark test with two
other big operators and saw
that the download speed of our
network is much better than the
others,” says Andrias Indra.
When looking at the results of
the tests following the project,
the enhancements to the network
are clear. Downlink throughput
improved by 74 percent and uplink
throughput improved by 56 percent.
Video streaming coverage increased
180 percent, voice call drop rate
reduced by 60 percent and signal
strength coverage was enhanced
by 28 percent.

3. We did a benchmark test with two
other big operators and saw that
the download speed of our network
is much better than the others.”
Andrias Indra,
VP ICT Network Management, Sumatra Area PT, Telkomsel

4. Ericsson
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Telephone +46 10 719 0000
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© Ericsson AB 2015
CUSTOMER
>> Telkomsel, Indonesia.
CHALLENGE
>> Enhance the customer experience
for mobile broadband.
>> Improve accessibility and
coverage of Telkomsel’s network.
>> Maintain Telkomsel’s leading
position in Sumatera.
SOLUTION
>> Ericsson and Telkomsel
partnered for the Golden Cluster
project, an optimization program.
>> The teams focused on improving
app coverage rather than
network KPIs.
>> A combination of advanced
optimization, software
features and unique products
improved network performance
and app coverage.
RESULTS
>> Significant improvements to
downlink and uplink throughput,
video streaming coverage,
video call drop rate and
signal strength coverage.
>> An eight percent increase in
Telkomsel’s data subscribers.
>> A 13 percent revenue increase
in Medan for Telkomsel.
overview
These improvements have been
acknowledged by Telkomsel’s
customers. “The user experience
of our customers in Medan is
improving. This was indicated by
the increase in data subscribers
in Medan of about eight percent,”
says Muhammad Idham Kadir,
Service Quality Assurance Manager,
Region North Sumatra, Telkomsel.
The addition of new subscribers
resulted in a 13 percent revenue
increase in 5 months in the area
where the Golden Cluster project
was carried out.
New frontiers
The improvements to customer
experience have been significant,
and Telkomsel is looking to build
on this success by initiating
similar projects in other cities
around Indonesia. Muhammad
Idham Kadir considers the future
possibilities: “We are very happy
with the Golden Cluster project.
We really hope that the program
can be continued in other areas
because this has given significant
benefits to improve our network
reliability, especially for the
broadband services quality.”
OPTIMIZING OPERATOR OFFERINGS
In the shift towards the Networked
Society, users are becoming more
mobile, expecting to be able to
stay connected whenever and
wherever they are. This mobile
lifestyle places extreme demands
on networks and the technology
supporting them.
Ericsson is an expert at helping
operators’ ensure their networks
are able to handle the high level
of data traffic brought on by
this user behavior. Our Network
Design and Optimization (NDO)
services and unique products
such as AIR are key ingredients
to maintaining service quality and
the user experience. Ericsson
offers a full range of services and
products addressing everything
from technology deployment
to network transformation and
optimization in order to assure
optimal user experiences
and operator profitability.
Using our unique services and
products to analyze individual
network situations more
accurately and rapidly than any
other solution provider, Ericsson
allows operators to focus on their
business and user satisfaction.
The user experience of our
customers in Medan is improving.
This was indicated by the increase
in data subscribers in Medan of
about eight percent.”
Muhammad Idham Kadir,
Service Quality Assurance Manager,
Region North Sumatra, Telkomsel