Notes

Mobile Phones and Ramadan

The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia and the whole world had just celebrated the Eid holidays. Ramadan will be ending on the 18th of July.

It is a common tradition in Indonesia during Ramadan and Eid celebrations for people to change their phones to a new one. And just as the celebration is a big event for 65% population of the archipelago and the country as a whole, it also marks a busy month for mobile operators.

The three largest mobile providers in the country, Telkomsel, indosat and XL Axiata (which just recently purchased Axis Capital Group) have been in their most frantic moments. Given Indonesia’s love for mobile and the growing number of subscribers within the 4th most populous country in the world, public enthusiasm for phones are high. Jakarta’s malls and markets are now full of buyers.

Another reason why there is a rampant eagerness for new mobile phones is its importance for people who would be going home. The long journeys – some people travel for as long as 24 hours – seem to be a lot easier with many useful apps to guide or amuse.

Mobile operators are now providing travel guide applications and sometimes, even pre-installed offline navigation. Resting area promotions are also available. With no internet connection, people can still enjoy their long travel home with other amusing applications.

Ramadan is an event to reflect and practice their religion but Indonesians also know how to treat it as a vacation. Reviews show that almost 95% of Indonesian traveling home use their mobile phones a lot. Facebook leads the social media app that is being patronized.

For most, having the latest mobile phone is very important – not because of practical reasons, but rather because of the prestige in the eyes of family when they return home. It may seem shallow but oftentimes, after the holiday is over, Indonesian would trade their mobile phones for something more practical.

Considering how prices of mobile phones can rocket during Ramadan, another life savior in a long journey is the use of tablets and laptops although it can be very bulky and are prone to fraudulent acts like getting it stolen or lost.

The occasion only last for two to three months yearly but it is enough to attract a lot of investors with the Return of Investment profited from it. It is an undeniably noticeable trend in the archipelago and many people are looking forward to it every year.