Indonesia-based CDMA wireless service provider Telekom PT Smartfren (Smartfren) has earmarked an investment of up to IDR 10 trillion for a 4G network roll-out. Smartfren will also be shifting its subscribers from the 1900 MHz band to the 2300 MHz band. The company intends to finance these initiatives through a combination of vendor financing and syndicated loans from the China Development Bank, among others. Earlier, Smartfren had stated that it would issue mandatory convertible bonds worth up to IDR 8 trillion, part of which would be used to finance future operations. Smartfren intends to complete the shifting process within two years, in order to launch 4G services in 2016.
