Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G. Plate highlighted the importance of having the government introduce to the public, especially millennials, the portrait of the development of digitalisation in Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Connectivity Status
According to a recent press release, the millennials need to be informed about what their country is like, particularly focusing on tourism and telecommunications.
In front of the hundreds of millennials present during the Millennial Summit 2020, Minister Johnny shared about the great development in Indonesia’s telecommunications infrastructure in recent years.
He highlighted the portrait of Indonesia as a country that has become a larger nation because of its great telecommunications and information technology infrastructure.
The Minister of Communication and Information explained the Palapa Ring telecommunications infrastructure network that connects all districts and cities with high-speed internet networks.
This provides a fixed broadband wherein more than 340,000 kilometres of optical fibre on land and at sea in Indonesia, which connects all the points in the country.
Additionally, Indonesia also has mobile broadband, which is a result of the commitment between the government and telecommunications companies. At present, Indonesia has five satellites.
Indonesia and its telecommunications companies use five multifunctional satellites to ensure the availability of the internet everywhere in Indonesia.
Base stations (BTS) are built in more than 400 thousand areas and there will be three new additional satellites.
Utilising Connectivity in the Digital Age
Because of the availability of connectivity, the Minister is hopeful that the country’s millennial generation will continue to develop creative and digital-based businesses.
They are expected to utilise the available and faster internet speeds by creating and developing platforms or applications that will bring Indonesia forward in the digital age.
Internet connectivity is essential for nations to thrive nowadays. OpenGov Asia had reported on some of the initiatives undertaken by countries.
Initiatives Across the Globe
Mainland Australians have been streaming movies and uploading videos with ease on their social media accounts, whereas their counterparts living in Christmas Island have been struggling with their internet connection.
But after years of frustrations, the people living on this island, which is located 2,600 kilometres north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean, will be able to experience high-speed and reliable internet.
The underwater cable linking Singapore to Perth promises to provide the island with fast internet that will allow it to keep in touch with the world.
Government agencies, businesses and residents on the island will all now have access to internet services that are as good as those available on the mainland.
Tele-health will be facilitated by improved video-conferencing and students will find it quicker and easier to access the internet for their studies.
Looking to the future development of the Christmas Island economy, improved connectivity will create opportunities for new and existing businesses seeking to deliver goods and services via the internet.
Meanwhile, providing reliable internet connection for workers is the priority of the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as they urged telecommunication companies to level up their game.
This comes after the President of the Philippines signed Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act into law, which may lead to a possible increase in demand for faster and more reliable internet connection.
Telecommuting is a work arrangement allowing employees to work from alternative workplaces with the use of information, communications and technology (ICT) tools.
New Zealand’s Regional Digital Hubs will enable people to connect for business and accelerate economic development in the region.
It will also offer services such as free Wi-Fi connectivity, co-working spaces and guidance on the use of the internet for business and skills development purposes.
