Communications Ministry seeks to expand internet access coverage and improve service quality

Bali (ANTARA) – Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said the ministry was continuing efforts to expand internet access coverage and improve service quality across Indonesia.

“This means connectivity must be accompanied by better quality, particularly in terms of speed and inclusivity,” she said at Bali Tech Week (BTW) 2026 in Sanur, Bali, on Monday.

She said internet service penetration in Indonesia had reached 81.72 per cent, covering around 235 million people, while 4G mobile networks with an average speed of 84 Mbps reached 98.96 per cent of the population.

Data transfer speeds for fixed broadband internet services stood at 67.45 Mbps, with a target of 100 Mbps by 2029.

Deputy Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Angga Raka Prabowo previously said 4G networks covered around 83,000 villages.

He said around 2,000 villages and settlements remained outside 4G coverage.

“This shows that progress in national connectivity remains uneven. This is a shared responsibility,” Angga said.

The effort aims to provide internet services at speeds of up to 100 Mbps for Rp100,000 to Rp150,000 per month.

The government is also opening up the use of the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz radio-frequency bands to expand service coverage and increase national mobile-network capacity, enabling the public to enjoy faster and more stable internet access.

Meutya also said the Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry were discussing ways to use electricity infrastructure to support telecommunications services.

She said expanding coverage and improving internet service quality could bring economic benefits to the public and spur national economic growth.

Indonesia’s digital-economy value, estimated at US$99 billion in 2025, is projected to rise to US$360 billion by 2030, she said.

To support the growth of the digital economy, the Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry has established Garuda Spark Innovation Hubs in 10 major cities and run 178 programmes over the past two years.

Through these programmes, the government has trained more than 15,000 digital talents, supported 80 start-ups and engaged 80 partners, with direct investment valued at Rp429.5 billion.