Encouraging 100 Mbps Internet Equity, Komdigi Opens New Access And Spectrum

Menkomdigi Meutya Hafid (photo: dock. Komdigi)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital instructs cellular operators to provide fixed internet access up to 100 Mbps in areas without fiber optic networks, including schools, health centers, and village offices.

Minister of Trade Meutya Hafid stated that this policy will be facilitated through a new spectrum allocation and an open access scheme that encourages the involvement of many parties and affordable service prices.

This effort is expected to pave the way for the provision of high-speed internet services in areas that have not been reached by fiber optic networks, especially for public facilities such as schools, health service centers, village offices, and households.

"This is our step in ensuring that every spectral policy not only prioritizes regulatory aspects, but also opens the widest possible space for industrial involvement and readiness," Meutya explained in a statement.

This instruction is also in accordance with data from the Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Komdigi, where there are still 86 percent of schools (190,000 units) that do not yet have permanent internet access.

In addition, 75 percent of the Puskesmas (7,800 units) have not been well connected, 32,000 village offices are still in the blank spot zone, and the penetration of fixed broadband has only reached 21.31 percent of households in Indonesia.

To support this, the government has prepared a new spectrum that will be transparently allocated to national cellular operators.

The network model to be implemented is open access, which means that the permit holder is required to open the infrastructure for joint use by other organizers.

The operator selection process will begin this year with a transparent and accountable scheme, prioritizing the readiness of technology and commitment to providing services at affordable prices.