Here at Menara Telkom, did you know you’re looking at what is considered the tallest building in Batam? Menara Telkom rises high above the other buildings here. The Telkomsel transmission tower stretches about 170 meters into the sky. If you could go up to the 16th floor, the views would be incredible.
Unfortunately, Menara Telkom is not open to the public. Only Telkomsel staff can enter the tower. But let me tell you why this tower is so important. It strengthens the network in the Riau Islands. This is especially important for Telkomsel customers in Batam, Tanjung Pinang, and Tanjung Balai Karimun.
Back in the early 1990s, from 1993 to 1995, the seeds of Indonesia’s first GSM mobile service were sown right here in Batam. This tower stands as a witness to Telkomsel’s success. It has become one of the best mobile telecommunications operators in Indonesia.
Telkomsel’s story began in Batam. In 1994, BJ Habibie inaugurated Telkomsel GSM operations on Batam Island. At that time, Telkomsel was a product name of PT Telkom. It became a separate mobile operator in 1995.
Telkomsel’s first tower was built in Bukit Dangas. Telkomsel was born in Batam. Everything about it was a first. Besides the tower in Bukit Dangas, two other towers were built in Batam that year. They were located in Nagoya and Muka Kuning. Over time, the first Telkomsel tower has been upgraded. It now supports 4G networks. It started with 2G and then 3G.
BJ Habibie played a vital role in Telkomsel’s creation. He approved GSM as the standard for mobile technology in Indonesia. His decision led to the shift from analog to digital mobile technology. In 1994, he officially launched Telkomsel GSM operations in Batam.
Bukit Dangas is a historically significant site for Telkomsel. The mobile operator first transmitted its signal from this hill in 1995. The first Telkomsel signal tower was built on Bukit Dangas’s peak. Telkomsel has grown into Indonesia’s largest mobile operator. It now has 170 million subscribers. The tower has BTS antennas that transmit 2G, 3G, and 4G signals. It is now a modern BTS. It supports 4G MiMo technology.
Looking out from Menara Telkom, you can see the “Welcome to Batam” sign. It has become a Batam icon. The writing stretches 120 meters. Each letter measures 10 meters by 5 meters. The letter weights vary between 3 and 4.5 tons.