Indonesia tailors internet expansion to local conditions

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is moving away from relying solely on Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers to expand internet access, opting instead to tailor its approach to local geography, population size, and the specific needs of each region.

This was highlighted by Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria during a meeting with the East Kalimantan Communication and Informatics Office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Under the strategy, the government will integrate BTS deployment with fiber-optic networks, satellites, and other telecommunications technologies to expand internet coverage, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

“We are trying to map out the priority areas. Regions that cannot be reached by BTS towers may instead be served by satellites or other telecommunications networks,” Nezar said.

According to him, this targeted approach is necessary because each region has distinct characteristics. Selecting the most appropriate technology based on local conditions will make connectivity deployment more effective, allowing it to reach areas that have long struggled with internet access.

He noted that East Kalimantan is among the provinces with the highest connectivity rates in the country, reaching 95.5 percent. Of its 841 villages, 803 are already connected.

Nevertheless, Nezar pointed out that the government has identified 269 remaining blank spots. Addressing these priority areas, he added, will require close coordination among local governments, the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI), and telecommunications operators.

He said budget constraints should not hinder efforts to provide equitable digital access, making collaboration essential to accelerating connectivity in areas that still experience blank spots or weak signals.

Meanwhile, Head of the East Kalimantan Communication and Informatics Office Ririn Sari Dewi said the provincial government is combining various technologies – from fiber-optic networks to satellites -tailored to local conditions to ensure more effective internet services.

Ririn added that accelerating connectivity across the province requires sustained support from the central government, including data synchronization, policy alignment, and collaboration among stakeholders.