Fibre broadband start-up MyRepublic, based in Singapore and backed by Indonesian telco Sunshine Network and French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, has announced the launch of fibre internet services in Indonesia. The newcomer’s Indonesian website is already allowing customers to sign up for services, with prices starting at an uber competitive USD15 per month for the ‘Basic’ plan, up to the most expensive at around USD70 (‘Supernova’) for a 300Mbps connection.

A mysterious new partnership between Indonesia’s spy agency and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to boost foreign investment has civil society wary of deepening agrarian conflict in the post-authoritarian country.

Last December, the 30-something CEO of a startup in Jakarta raised $100 million, a record for such a business in Indonesia. His name is William Tanuwijaya, and his e-commerce company is called Tokopedia. SoftBank is now Tokopedia's largest investor. Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of the Japanese telecom and Internet company, was the first major investor in Jack Ma Yun's Alibaba Group Holding. Son was also charmed by the young Indonesian, who said he hopes to become the next Jack Ma.