Indonesia Community-Powered Mobile Network Insights: How Your Data Helps Everyone
1. The Power of Crowdsourced Data
Here at Roam Network, we believe in the principle of “your data, your value.” By gathering signal and speed information from everyday people—just like you—we can paint a real-world picture of how mobile networks actually perform. This collective, or crowdsourced, data becomes a shared resource for everyone to learn from and benefit.
2. Understanding the Basics: 4G/LTE Measurements
When we talk about 4G or LTE signals, we often use three “magic” numbers:
- RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power)
- Think of this as how strong the light bulb is shining.
- The higher (closer to zero) the power, the better your phone can “see” the signal.
- Example range: -80 dBm is much stronger than -110 dBm.
- RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality)
- This is like how clear your window is when you look at a light.
- It measures signal quality. A less negative number (closer to 0) means less “fog” or interference.
- SINR (Signal to Interference & Noise Ratio)
- Imagine listening to music in a quiet room vs. a noisy room. SINR tells you how much louder the signal is compared to background noise.
- Higher SINR means clearer calls and faster data.
Finally, maximum downlink speed (or capacity) is a measure of how fast data can travel from the cell tower to your phone. In theory, it can be very high (like 200 Mbps or more), but real-world conditions—like your RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR—may reduce your actual speed.
3. A Snapshot of Indonesia’s 4G Data
Over the past 6 months, our Roam Network community in Indonesia has gathered:
- 463,189 distinct 4G cells mapped.
- 682 million measurement records collected.
- 31,000 distinct users contributing data.
That’s a massive amount of community-powered insight! Each time you share your phone’s network measurements, you help everyone see which areas have stronger signals and better speeds. In the picture each blue dot is a measurement one of you have reported in specific location with all valuable data:
4. Many Operator Names, Few Physical Infrastructures
Did you know there are 143 different operator names in our data, but they actually belong to only 10 physical network infrastructures? In other words, multiple “brands” may use the same towers and backend networks.
In the Roam app or on our data screens, you’ll see something called MNC (Mobile Network Code). The MNC tells us which physical infrastructure your phone is connected to. Here’s a quick peek at how many operator names we found under each MNC:
(Note: Some MNCs appear more than once in the table because they might represent different brand segments, SIM generations, or data quirks.)
5. Same Network, Different Experience
Even if two people use the “same” network, their experience might vary because of:
- SIM card age (old vs. new SIMs may use different settings).
- Phone hardware (a newer phone may handle signals better).
6. Signal Strength (Median RSRP) per Network
Below is the median RSRP (signal power) for each physical infrastructure (grouped by MNC). Remember: -105 dBm is stronger (better) than -110 dBm. Although it’s only a 5 dBm difference, that can be almost 3x stronger in actual signal power!
To put it simply:
- -105 dBm = Your phone’s “light bulb” is brighter.
- -110 dBm = A dimmer “light bulb.” You may notice slower speeds or weaker coverage.
And here’s a detailed look at some operator consumer brand names (the brand you see on your phone) and their median RSRP:
Some brands appear multiple times with slightly different names because of promotions, SIM profiles, or user-defined operator names. Also, keep in mind that these median values reflect the “middle” measurement—some people see better coverage, some worse.
7. Speed Matters: Maximum Downlink Speeds
We also look at maximum downlink speeds per cell. This is like asking, “What’s the fastest speed we’ve ever seen on this tower?” It doesn’t mean you’ll always get that speed—just that it’s the best so far.
Here’s an example per MNC:
And the same metric but grouped by operator name:
Again, remember: This is the top speed observed so far, not the average. Network congestion, distance from the tower, phone models, and SIM card types all affect what speed you’ll actually get.
8. Why Should You Care?
- You pay for high speeds: If you’re promised 200 Mbps but only see 10 Mbps, that’s important to know.
- Coverage vs. Reality: Marketing claims don’t always match real-world coverage.
- Empowerment: By understanding signal strength and speed, you can make better decisions about your operator, your phone, or even where you choose to live or work.
And because your data is your value, sharing measurements with Roam Network helps the entire community see what’s really happening. It’s a win-win:
- You get insights into your own network performance.
- Everyone else benefits from your contributions.
9. Join the Roam Network Community
Ready to see and share real-world data? Download the Roam Network app and be part of our growing community. Each measurement you contribute helps us build a clearer picture of mobile coverage for everyone—powered by you!
“Your data, your value.”
Together, let’s keep shining a light on how our networks truly perform.
We encourage everyone in the Roam Network community to take action. Share this blog post on social media and tag your local operator, asking:
“Where’s my speed? What are you doing with the data I share every day?”
By doing this, you help hold operators accountable, foster transparency, and spark real conversations about network quality. Together, we can shine a brighter light on mobile performance—and help everyone get the speed and coverage they deserve.
Ready to share? Copy the link to this article, tag your operator, and let’s get the conversation started!