Minister of Communication and Information Urges Google to Build a Data Center in Indonesia

Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Johnny G. Plate urges Google to immediately set up a data center (data center) in Indonesia in order to maintain data security, as well as to realize the government's ambition which wants Indonesia to have an integrated data center.

"I have a request for Google to prepare data center within Indonesian territory. We understand that in this digitalization era, there are extra territories, we know that. But especially for Indonesia, which is also big in the digital world, let's together make sure Indonesia has data center integrated," explained Johnny at the Google for Indonesia event, Wednesday (20/11).

In order to prepare Indonesia as a country with the largest economy in Southeast Asia, he promised to talk to experts and policy makers in friendly countries regarding the use of data. He wants to ensure that the data sovereignty that is built is not only beneficial for the country, but also the Indonesian people, and globally.

Johnny continued, there are several things that are needed in this digital era. It's not just a matter of infrastructure, frequency, and digital talent, but also adequate primary regulations. Currently, his ministry is reviewing the Data Protection Bill (RUU PDP) and entering it into the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

"We want a discussion to see benchmarks to perfect the PDP Bill, it can be useful for the business world, especially Indonesia."

Confirmed, Google Indonesia's Head of Corporate Communication Jason Tedjasukmana explained that Google is indeed building a physical building Google Cloud Regions (GCP) in Indonesia, to be precise in Jakarta.

"Next year is already there cloud regions in the first semester in Jakarta. It was announced last year," he said.

Physical presence cloud regions This, he admits, has received requests from Google Cloud clients in Indonesia. The reason is, the physical presence is certainly much lower latency and high performance in use.

Mentioned Google Cloud client among them Gojek, Bank BRI, Traveloka, Alfamart, Tokopedia, and others. "After hearing input from them [clients], we will present it cloud regions next year."

As a note, cloud regions it's different from data center. Cloud Regions is an availability zone designed to minimize latency and improve service performance in a region.

Google Cloud Region Indonesia will be the eighth in Asia Pacific, after Mumbai, Singapore, Taiwan, Sydney, and Tokyo. Currently GCP is spread in 20 regions in more than 200 countries around the world.