The Government Targets 12,548 Villages To Be Equipped With A 4G Internet Network

Illustration. (Photo: XL Axiata)

JAKARTA - The government continues to encourage digital infrastructure development to achieve Indonesia's vision 4.0. One of the ambitious targets is that the government will expand the reach of the 4G internet network in the village.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said the expansion of the 4G internet network would be carried out in 12,548 unreached villages. As for the details, 9,113 villages are in underdeveloped, frontier, outermost (3T) areas and 3,435 in non 3T areas.

"The government is planning digital infrastructure, expanding 4G. There are 12,548 villages that have not been reached by 4G, this will continue to be encouraged, including for 3T areas," he said, during the 'Virtual 100 Economist Workshop', Tuesday, September 15.

The government is also encouraging the launch of the Republic of Indonesia Multifunction Satellite or Satria in 2023. Airlangga said the Satria Satellite is targeted to connect 150 thousand points to serve telecommunications and internet needs in various sectors, namely local governments, schools, health facilities, ministries and institutions, and others.

"The government has made central data integrated in three places, Jabodetabek, the State Capital cluster, Samarinda, Balikpapan and Batam," he said.

Not only that, Airlangga said, the government was also making preparations for the 5G internet network in stages. According to him, this internet network trial will be limited.

"The trial priority is in areas that want a fourth industrial revolution or integrated industrial areas. Trials are limited," he said.

The former Minister of Industry said that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Indonesia since March, making him aware of the importance of digital transformation. According to him, this should be a momentum for the acceleration of digital transformation.

Airlangga said that the population of internet users until 2019 reached 180 million, with 150 million active internet users, and 105 million online service users. The majority or 32 percent of the population of internet users are Gen Y aged 20 to 39 years. From a total of 83,218 villages, the 4G network only reaches 84.9 percent or 70,670 villages.