• News

According to Minister Budi Arie, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) continues to make efforts to reduce the digital divide through strategic programs and policies.

The government is working to accelerate equal internet access by building digital infrastructure across all regions of Indonesia. At the same time, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics is conducting digital literacy training for the public.

Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi stated that efforts to equalize internet access will not only reduce the digital divide but also provide equal opportunities for all Indonesians.

"We need to remember the importance of creating equal opportunities in development, especially in achieving an inclusive and empowering digital transformation," he emphasized in his Keynote Speech at Datacomm Solution Day 2024 at the Ritz Carlton Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (10/09/2024).

According to Minister Budi Arie, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics continues to strive to reduce the digital divide through strategic programs and policies.

"The solution is through upskilling and reskilling, improving digital literacy for the public with training and investment in the education sector. We are also utilizing satellite constellations as an effort to create accessible broadband in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions (3T)," he explained.

The Minister further elaborated that these solutions are strengthened through cross-stakeholder collaboration, facilitating knowledge transfer, and creating an inclusive digital ecosystem.

"The government continues efforts to reduce the national digital divide. We are building infrastructure, including Base Transreceiver Stations (BTS) in 3T areas, expanding internet access to public service facilities, deploying Palapa Ring fiber-optic networks, and launching the SATRIA-1 multifunction satellite," he said.

In addition, the government has initiated several upskilling and reskilling programs that encompass three levels of digital competence. Minister Budi Arie views these initiatives as efforts to develop highly competitive digital human resources.

"At the basic level, there is the National Digital Literacy Movement to encourage increased public proficiency in using digital technology. At the intermediate level, there is the Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) program, which offers training in areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence," he explained.

At the advanced level, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics runs the Digital Leadership Academy program, which provides digital leadership training for C-level executives, leaders, and policymakers from both the private and public sectors. All these efforts are aimed at improving digital skills and competencies to optimize the use of digital infrastructure.

"In formal education, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics also offers master's degree scholarships in digital fields, both at domestic and foreign universities," said Minister Budi Arie.

Currently, internet penetration in Indonesia continues to grow, reaching 79.5% of the national population. Additionally, 4G connectivity now covers 97.42% of residential areas, while 5G connectivity covers only 3.53% of residential areas in Indonesia.

IN