All Indonesian Cities to Heve Internet Connectivity bt 2019: Rudiantara

Malang, E Java, (Antara) - Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara has vowed to offer high-speed internet access to all capitals and regencies in Indonesia by 2019 through the provision of government facilities under the "Tol Informasi" program.

"In order to improve internet services, we are targeting to connect 500 capitals and regencies in the country with high-speed internet by 2019," he noted here on Saturday.

Currently, the country is facing a challenge in the form of a large internet access gap between regions, in addition to several areas that are yet to have internet access.

Rudiantara cited the example of Java where internet speed is between three and four megabytes per second. Meanwhile, internet speed in Papua reaches only about 300 kilobytes per second, or one-tenth, not to mention that it comes at a steep price.

Hence, the government has initiated the "Tol Informasi" program aims to bridge the gap between islands through high-speed and relatively equal information access throughout the country.

The Palapa Ring project is one of the infrastructure programs to be developed to support such initiative, with focus on building optical fiber connectivity across Indonesia's territories.

The project includes seven small fiber optic rings for Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, Papua, Sulawesi, and Maluku as well as a "backhaul" or system to connect them all.

The Palapa Ring will help to build a broadband network for high-speed internet access in 57 cities and regencies that do not have it yet and connect 28 cities and regencies with existing connectivity.

"If the Palapa Ring becomes operational by 2019, the entire territory of Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke as well as from Miangas to Rote, will be able to enjoy high-speed internet access. It will also elevate our position as the champion of the internet infrastructure similar to Singapore," Rudiantara noted.(*)