Imagine a village in the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra. Residents\u2019\nhomes stand among tropical trees and along the coast. The sea connects\npeople across the islands while also separating them from services on\nthe mainland.<\/p>\n
To reach Sikakap from Padang, travellers must cross about 185\nkilometres of sea. The ferry journey can take 12 hours, while a fast\nboat cuts the trip to around four.<\/p>\n
In a place like this, the internet means more than entertainment.\nWhere network coverage has yet to adequately reach communities,\nproviding an internet connection opens a window on a wider world.<\/p>\n
That is what 39-year-old Yogi Gilang Arya Setia set out to do. He\nsold Starlink internet vouchers to residents of Sikakap District. His\nefforts, however, took him to court in Padang, far from the village he\nhad hoped to help.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors sought a three-month prison sentence for providing\ntelecommunications services without a licence. On Thursday, 15 October\n2026, a panel of judges at the Padang District Court found Yogi guilty\nbut granted him forgiveness without imposing a sentence.<\/p>\n
The judges took into account the tangible benefits his business\nbrought to people in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas.\nTheir decision offers an important lesson about the relationship between\nlaw and humanity.<\/p>\n
Yogi bought Starlink satellite internet service and sold access\nthrough vouchers from 2024 until 1 October 2025. He breached licensing\nrequirements, but at the same time helped residents obtain a service\nthey needed.<\/p>\n
Initiatives like this deserve recognition. Development does not\nalways begin with major projects, state budgets or official ceremonies.\nSometimes it starts with someone who sees their neighbours\u2019 difficulties\nand tries to address them.<\/p>\n
The judges\u2019 decision does not remove the obligation to obtain a\nlicence. But Yogi\u2019s case shows how important proportionate rules are for\nsmall businesses in remote areas. Meeting telecommunications licensing\nrequirements can itself be a considerable burden.<\/p>\n
The good news is that the Ministry of Communication and Digital\nAffairs has co-ordinated with Starlink and local communications network\nproviders to help Yogi continue his business.<\/p>\n
This is a more promising approach: finding a way to keep internet\nservices available to Sikakap residents while giving Yogi the certainty\nto operate legally. But the cost of access must not become a burden on\nthe public.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, Yogi could reshape the business as a community-based\nsocial service. If its primary purpose is to help people get connected,\nfunding could involve residents, educational institutions, foundations\nor social organisations.<\/p>\n
The operator could calculate subscription, electricity, network\nequipment and maintenance costs, then devise a transparent funding\nmodel.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/when-justice-understands-the-good-1792227037", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }