Smartfren

Smartfren is not a mobile phone manufacturer but rather an Indonesian wireless network operator headquartered in Central Jakarta. The company, which stylizes its name in all lowercase, was founded to provide telecommunications services in Indonesia and has historically operated as a standalone carrier before undergoing significant corporate restructuring. It is currently operated by XLSMART, a joint venture formed between the Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas and the Malaysian telecommunications company Axiata. The operator’s history is marked by a significant technological transition in 2014, when it shifted away from CDMA technologies to focus on 4G LTE and subsequently 5G networks. This pivot allowed Smartfren to modernize its infrastructure, and in 2015, it made headlines for becoming the first company in Indonesia to launch an LTE Advanced network. By 2018, the company had amassed 10.1 million active subscribers, securing its position as the fifth-largest wireless carrier in the country. Its services, which include voice via VoLTE and data, are available in over 200 cities across Indonesia. In late 2024, Smartfren announced a major merger with XL Axiata, a deal valued at IDR 104 trillion (approximately USD 6.5 billion) that aimed to create a new telecommunications powerhouse. The merger, approved by XL’s shareholders in March 2025, resulted in Smartfren being absorbed into the new entity XLSMART Telecom Sejahtera, with the formal completion date set for April 16, 2025. Under this new structure, Smartfren’s services continue to operate alongside the XL and Axis brands within the merged organization.