Huawei Releases Global Connectivity Index 2015, Indonesia in 41st Position out of 50 Countries

Huawei recently released a paper titled Global Connectivity Index (GCI) 2015. An index that compares connectivity, usage, ICT and digital transformation in 50 countries around the world. In the report, Indonesia ranks 41st, below other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.

In press release, Huawei explained that in the 2015 edition of the GCI applied a methodology that doubled the number of ICT variables and countries analyzed last year. This year the GCI was able to illustrate the correlations needed to set investment targets for the government and other stakeholders.

Kevin Zhang, President of Huawei Corporate Marketing said, “GCI is not just a country ranking. We see it as a platform to partner with policymakers and corporate leaders to identify, exploit and create new digital economy opportunities with the goal of building a better connected world.”

From the GCI data, Indonesia is ranked 41 out of 50 countries. Indonesia is under Malaysia and Thailand which are in position 28 and 31 respectively and are far behind Singapore which occupies position 3.

The Huawei report also explained that the realization of ICT investment with gross domestic product (GDP) has a strong relationship. The realization of large investments in ICT has a positive impact on a country's GDP. According to the GCI, Indonesia only invests 1.2 percent of GDP in ICT. Quite far behind Malaysia with a ratio of 2.8 percent, Thailand with 2.4 percent and Singapore with 3.8 percent.

GCI 2015 also highlights how service penetration broadband and mobile networks. It is stated that Indonesia is quite promising in terms of cellular network penetration with smartphone user penetration of 18 percent and mobile broadband by 24.2 percent. This is in line with data released by Kominfo some time ago, which showed a significant increase in the construction of 3G BTS in the period 2010 to 2013.

Question fixed broadband, according to GCI 2015 exposure, penetration fixed-broadband in Indonesia remains low and services are only enjoyed by high-income people.

Associated with broadband, previously the government had planned and promise to make quality broadband the best in Indonesia in 2019. In addition to good quality we all naturally hope about the distribution and affordability of services. It will be useless if the good quality of service cannot be enjoyed evenly throughout the country and all levels of Indonesian society.