Telkom Director for Network & IT Solution Herlan Wijanarko (left) during an inspection on Telkom infrastructure network access and was providing a technical brief to a IndiHome technician as part of the company’s efforts to provide a quality and premium customer service. 

Jakarta, 19 October 2020 – Infrastructure development is one of the five main aspects that the government is focusing on now. The government views that infrastructure is an important step to strengthen Indonesia's position in facing the challenges posed by the global changes. In accordance with the government's vision, PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom) has been aggressively developing telecommunications infrastructure across the country aimed to establish a more prosperous and competitive digital society. 

Developing in Remote Areas Across the Country
With its capabilities as a state-owned telecommunications company, TelkomGroup has contributed in developing digitalization in Indonesia through the Indonesia Digital Network (IDN), which focuses on developing and bringing connectivity that connects all points to remote areas. The digital telecommunication infrastructure includes land-based fiber optic and terrestrial cables, submarine cables, and satellites. 

As of September 2020, 166,343 kilometers of fiber optic have stretched connecting Sabang to Merauke, and connecting the national network to international communication access. This is equivalent to four times the earth’s circumference. TelkomGroup actively participates in the development of international telecommunication infrastructure, so that this nation has independence and sovereignty over access to information and global telecommunications, as well as positioning Telkom on the same level with global telecommunications operators. More than 34,000 towers also strengthen telecommunication access on land. In order to reach the spots unconnected with the fiber optics such as the outermost, frontier, and disadvatanged (3T) regions, TelkomGroup operates its three satellites, namely Telkom 2, Telkom 3S, and Merah Putih, which have 133 transponders.

For its mobile services, TelkomGroup through its subsidiary Telkomsel has been able to develop massive cellular services with more than 200,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), out of which 90,000 are 4G BTS. This means that almost the entire population of Indonesia can have access to cellular services, including Telkomsel’s 4G LTE service which has covered up to 95% of the population and all the main cities and districts in Indonesia.

TelkomGroup also brings connectivity for households with IndiHome. This triple play service has reached 496 districts/cities, 5,115 sub-districts, and 34,285 villages, with a total of 7.8 million subscribers. IndiHome has consistently expanded and strengthened its network to the outermost islands, including Rote Island. 

"With the spirit to provide equal access to telecommunications and information, the fixed broadband and cellular services are now accessible in big cities as well as the 3T regions. Everyone can benefit from them and have equal access to information," Telkom Director of Network & IT Solution, Herlan Wijanarko.

Developing access in the 3T regions has been taking place since several years ago, when TelkomGroup began installing submarine cable infrastructure that connects Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. There are at least 13 outermost islands that have been connected by TelkomGroup's access, including Karimun Island, Kei Island, Alor Island, Weh Island, Sebatik Island, Liran Island, and Rote Island. Telkom also cooperates with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology for the Palapa Ring project, so that people in the remote areas can have access to telecommunications services.

The even and widespread telecommunication infrastructure to remote areas across the country is expected to support efforts to improve the people's welfare, especially MSMEs, which play an important role in economic acceleration. People can use the telecommunications network to run their business so that they can reach a wider domestic and international market to increase their competitiveness.

Digitalization, Transformation, and Pandemic
As the need for broadband services continues to increase and the changes in consumer behavior that continously adopt a digital lifestyle in the consumer segment and ICT solutions in the corporate segment, the telecommunications world is anticipating it and is undergoing a strategic shift towards the digital world.

"One of the steps that TelkomGroup takes in responding to the growing need for digital services is to modernize infrastructure in a number of areas, through the Modern Broadband City program," Herlan said.

Modernization means upgrading the copper-based networks to fiber optic. Telkom has a roadmap to upgrade all its copper-based infrastructure to fiber optic in 459 cities and districts until 2023, as they are part of Telkom's obligations. As of September 2020 Telkom has been able in upgrading an island (Kalimantan), 11 provinces, and 346 cities and districts to have 100% full fiber optic-based networks.

Customers can benefit from this Infrastructure modernization by having triple play services and a variety of content with broadband quality, as well as experiencing an unlimited bandwidth. The regional governments can benefit from this modernization to support the regional administrations’ programs related to broadbad provision and the availability of broadband access to all remote parts of the country, that can support economic acceleration. The regional governments can also conduct their acvitivities digitally now that the network has been modernized. 

Herlan reaffirmed that Modern Broadband City is a Telkom's commitment in providing quality and reliable digital infrastructure, expected to support the development of local, regional and national economic potential. This is also a manifestation of Telkom’s commitment to improve the quality of ICT services for the public and to accelerate digitalization in Indonesia.