The Minister of Communication and Information Targets Indonesia's Broadband Plan to Be Completed January 1, 2019

The Indonesian Broadband Plan (RPI) is targeted to be completed on January 1, 2019. The Ministry of Communication and Information on its official page even targets all district and city capitals throughout Indonesia connected optical fiber. More or less covers 514 wilyah.

Explained in the Working Meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara explained that the government will coordinate with telecommunications operators, especially Telkom to build this broadband infrastructure.

Rudiantara said that telecommunication operators, especially Telkom, have submitted additional data on district and city capitals that are not yet connected to telecommunications infrastructure. These areas include areas that are considered to have no economic value for the operator, but become the state's obligation.

"For example, the Natuna area, which is a strategic area from a geopolitical point of view for the country, but from a business perspective it is not feasible. Whoever builds fiber optic infrastructure there will not get rate of return from a financial perspective so that banks will not provide loans,” he explained.

Rudiantara also added that this is where the role of the government will be to connect fiber optic infrastructure, which is not financially visible to operators. The government can designate areas that have not been touched by operators to build the Palapa Ring project.

In addition to infrastructure, in document RPI is also planning the development of several technological aspects that the government is trying to accelerate, such as an integrated network and data center as well as HR development programs and the National ICT Industry. Especially for points of e-government, e-health, e-education, e-logistics, and e-procurement.

This RPI is needed by Indonesia, especially in order to catch up with Indonesia in terms of internet quality and coverage. Bappenas targets to get 49% of consumers from rural areas and 71% of consumers in urban areas within five years (2014-2019).

Regarding the West Package and Central Package of the Palapa Ring which have been signed by the Minister of Communication and Information, he explained, the West Package of the Palapa Ring will cover the Province of Riau and the Riau Archipelago. Meanwhile, the Central Palapa Ring Package covers the provinces of East Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Maluku.

"The contract has been signed with a total value of Rp3,48 trillion for the West Package and Rp3,51 trillion for the Central Package. Likewise with the East Palapa Ring Package which includes the Provinces of NTT and Maluku with a total value of Rp. 12,04 trillion," said Rudiantara.

Rudiantara further explained that currently the construction of the Palapa Ring infrastructure is still hampered by technical obstacles. The government still cannot decide what infrastructure to use for development in Central Papua. However, the Minister of Communication and Information emphasized that the Ministry of Communication and Information will coordinate with the Ministry of Public Works. It is planned that the construction of optical fiber will be integrated with the construction of roads throughout the Papua region.

In addition to fiber optic infrastructure, the government is also trying to reach remote areas through hot air balloons. Through cooperation with INSITEK, Kominfo are developing hot air balloons that can carry internet connectivity.