DPR Urges 5G Internet Network Equity: Indonesia Is Only 10 Percent

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I of the DPR, Syamsu Rizal urged the government to accelerate the distribution of the fifth generation (5G) internet network, whose coverage is still low. He said the coverage of the 5G internet network in Indonesia to date has only reached about 10 percent, far behind neighboring countries in the Southeast Asia region which have reached 80 percent.

According to Syamsu Rizal, the government needs to immediately respond to this with concrete and measurable steps so that Indonesia is not left behind in the global digital revolution.

"The sooner, the better, and evenly the internet network in Indonesia, the greater the opportunity for people to access information, increase knowledge, and contribute to the progress of the nation," said Syamsu Rizal to reporters, Tuesday, October 28.

The man who is familiarly called Deng Ical assessed that the internet is not just a means of communication, but has become the basic infrastructure of modern civilization. According to him, the existence of the internet has a direct effect on the transformation of the economy, social, and public education.

"With a stable and fast internet connection, MSME players can more easily market products through e-commerce platforms, while the tourism sector can expand promotions digitally to global markets without having to rely on conventional promotions," he explained.

The PKB legislator also emphasized that equitable internet access would reduce the gap between urban and rural areas.

"People in remote areas will have the same opportunity in accessing information, online education services, to digital business opportunities," he said.

Deng Ical encourages the government, especially the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) together with telecommunications operators to accelerate the development of network infrastructure and ensure that digitalization policies are truly in favor of the wider community.

"The government must create an inclusive digital ecosystem by strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration, starting from service providers, local governments, to startups. In addition, there needs to be investment incentives and adaptive regulations so that 5G network development can expand without bureaucratic barriers," he said.

As a constructive step, Deng Ical also proposed that the government integrate the 5G acceleration program with policies to strengthen national digital literacy.

Fast contacts must be balanced with increasing people's ability to use them productively and safely. A smart internet will give birth to people who are superior and globally competitive," he concluded.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Wamenkomdigi) Nezar Patria admitted that the adoption of the fifth generation network was far behind neighboring countries in the region.

Nezar gave an example, Malaysia has reached around 80 percent of 5G coverage, while Indonesia has only touched less than 10 percent. This condition, he said, shows that there is still a lot of homework in expanding the high-speed network infrastructure in the country.

"The government targets at least 30 percent of Indonesia's territory to be covered by 5G networks by 2030. This of course requires strong collaboration from all stakeholders in the industry," said Nezar at the Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) office, Jakarta, Monday, October 27.