Here's How To Get A Free Set Top Box From The Government, Check The Terms!

Tube and LCD TVs must use a Set Top Box (STB) to get a digital television broadcast signal. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) will soon migrate analogue television (TV) to digital, which is scheduled to be completed on November 2, 2022.

For this transition, tube and LCD TVs must use a Set Top Box (STB) to get a digital television broadcast signal. The device is rumored to be distributed free of charge by the government.

But not all people will get this device for free. Keep in mind, only people who are classified as poor can get STB from the government for free.

In addition, beneficiaries must also be genuine Indonesian citizens as evidenced by an electronic ID card, have a television and watch via terrestrial broadcasts instead of satellite dishes or subscriptions. Finally, what is certain is that the location of the house must be within the coverage of television broadcasts that will be affected by Analog System Off (ASO).

According to the Ministry of Communication and Information, around 7 million STBs will be distributed free of charge, and distributed to beneficiaries who already have television sets, but are still in the form of analog TVs.

One of the requirements to get a free STB from the Ministry of Communication and Information is that the community has been registered with the Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS) from the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos).

Then how to register it? The public can register online and independently on the Check Bansos application to receive free STB assistance from the Ministry of Communication and Information and the Ministry of Social assistance. Follow the steps below.

Download the Check Bansos application on the Play store. You have to check first whether this application was made by the Ministry of Social Affairs or not, because many applications are similar. Watch out for scams. Then register first, then prepare a Family Card Number, NIK, and KTP. Select the menu list of proposals to register yourself, families or communities that have been recorded at the DTKS of the Ministry of Social Affairs to get social assistance. Select add suggestion. Later the system will verify the name, NIK, KTP, KK, Dukcapil suitability status and suitability of the proposer according to the DTKS data from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Next, you can choose the type of social assistance you want to register. Then you can wait for the results of whether you are eligible for social assistance funds including the STB of the Ministry of Communication and Information. You can check the application periodically if there is a notification.