Minister Of Communication And Information Targets The Remaining Development Of 630 4G BTS In Papua In The 1st Quarter Of 2024, Jokowi: I Record Loh!

The inauguration ceremony of BTS 4G and SATRIA-1 in Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. (Dinda-VOI screenshot)

JAKARTA - President Jokowi has inaugurated the operation of the 4G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and the integration of the Republic of Indonesia 1 Satellite (SatRIA-1) in Talaud, North Sulawesi. For those who have not been installed, it is targeted that the Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi in the First Quarter of 2024 will be completed.

Even though it was stalled due to a corruption case, the 4G BTS development project in 4,990 locations was successfully completed by the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics within four months of Fadhilah Mathar's term as Director of BAKTI.

"We have built various connectivity infrastructures, we are also building a sky toll road so that all levels of society have equal access to the digital world, including in the development of BTS. The problem is, there are problems, corruption, so stop," said Jokowi in his speech.

However, Jokowi also asked the Attorney General's Office to continue the 4G BTS construction project, as well as the legal process that took place related to the corruption case did not interfere with the course of this project. "And the evidence is that after being pursued for 4 months, there are also fewer problems that can be resolved, even though there are not a small number," said Jokowi.

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi also stated that the acceleration of the 4G BTS development was due to the absence of problems with the technique that interfered with it, but only administrative and legal issues. So, within four months, BAKTI Kominfo managed to complete the construction of 4G BTS in 4,990 locations, from the overall target of 7,200. Budi said that the remaining 630 who have not been built are in the Papua region, which has geographical challenges.

"So indeed, what we are actually doing is the total target of 7,200 presidents, the 1800s of cellular operators continue to be built, and what we can complete until this year, this was added by MC 4,990. Now there are still around 630 that we have not been able to complete this year," said Budi.

Considering these challenges, Jokowi has also ordered the TNI and Polri to assist the construction of 4G BTS in Papua in terms of security, so that all problems can be resolved properly.

The Minister of Communication and Information also targets the construction of 630 4G BTS in this Papua location to be completed in the first quarter of next year. "We hope that hopefully in the first semester or quarter of next year, it will be 3 months, hopefully we can adjust it to those in the Kahar area specifically from Papua," he promised.

Hearing the promise, Jokowi emphasized, "I noted from the Minister of Communication and Informatics, the promise was next year in the first semester, don't be ready, I'll take note, that's right."