Minister of Communications and Digital Application, Meutya V. Hafid, has announced a target for expanding 4G infrastructure and signal coverage to ensure better connectivity in Indonesia’s 3T (frontier, outermost, and least-developed) regions.
“Although internet coverage has reached many areas, much of it remains at the 2G level, which limits speed and connectivity,” Meutya told a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission I in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
The Ministry plans to focus 4G infrastructure development on 65 villages in the first phase, but has not specified which villages will be included.
“In the past, we achieved 97 percent connectivity coverage, but it means little if the connection remains largely 2G, which is very slow,” she said.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Application has laid out a 100-day plan with four main priorities:
- Organizational Consolidation: This includes restructuring the ministry’s post-transformation organization, proposing a revised budget structure, and finalizing regulatory policies;
- Digital Infrastructure: Key initiatives involve providing equal internet access in the 65 target villages and establishing the Indonesia Digital Test House to meet global standards. The ministry also aims to complete two major infrastructure projects: the National Data Center and 4G base stations in 3T regions;
- Digital Ecosystem and Human Resources Development: This priority includes initiatives to prevent and address the impacts of online gambling through a six-city roadshow, digital skills training through the Digital Talent Scholarship program, and the goal to activate 25 digital startups;
- Public Communication: The ministry will draft a Presidential Regulation on the National Public Communication System to build public trust in key government programs like the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) and the free nutritious meal initiative.
Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Application aims to ensure not only broader, but also faster internet access across various regions in Indonesia, supporting digital inclusion and economic growth in underserved areas.
