BATAMCLICK.COM: Behind the dazzling tech advancements in Indonesia’s major cities, millions of students are still learning without internet access. Thousands of health centers operate without real-time data, and tens of thousands of village offices remain digitally disconnected. But a new hope is emerging from a national policy initiative.
The Indonesian government is preparing to roll out fixed internet access with speeds of up to 100 Mbps, prioritizing areas that lack fiber optic infrastructure—particularly schools, community health centers, village offices, and rural households.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, stated that the initiative is part of a nationwide effort to accelerate digital equality, as mandated by President Prabowo Subianto.
“In his inauguration speech, the President repeatedly emphasized the critical role of digitalization in improving the people’s economic welfare,” Meutya said on Saturday.
More than just a technology project, this program touches the core of communities long left behind in the global information age. According to the Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure, the current connectivity gap is significant:
- 86% of schools (around 190,000 units) lack fixed internet access.
- 75% of community health centers (around 7,800 units) are not yet properly connected.
- Around 32,000 village offices are located in blank spot zones.
- Fixed broadband penetration reaches only 21.31% of households in Indonesia.
To realize this ambition, the government will allocate new spectrum bandwidth through a transparent selection process to internet service providers. The infrastructure will adopt an open access model, requiring permit holders to share their networks with other operators.
“We aim to ensure that every spectrum policy not only complies with regulations but also fosters industry participation and readiness,” Meutya emphasized.
The Ministerial Regulation draft, which will serve as the legal foundation for the affordable internet program, is currently under consultation with stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.
The selection process for operators will begin this year. According to Meutya, preference will be given to providers that demonstrate technological readiness and a strong commitment to delivering affordable and quality internet services.
Not Just Cables and Data
In an era where connectivity is a basic human need, this initiative is about more than just cables and signals. It’s about unlocking the dreams of children in remote areas, speeding up healthcare services, and connecting villages to a wider world. As the network begins to reach Indonesia’s silent corners, that hope becomes more real—bit by bit, megabyte by megabyte.
