Frequency Auction Winners Urged to Accelerate Internet Equality

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid has urged the winners of the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequency band selection to accelerate equitable internet access and deliver quality mobile services, especially to areas not yet covered by networks. The government has imposed several obligations on the auction winners, including the provision of 4G services in 538 villages and sub-districts that currently lack adequate internet signal. “Because of that, we are giving a commitment of obligation to the selection winners to carry out the task, including providing quality 4G services in 538 villages and sub-districts spread from Sumatra to Papua that are currently not connected to a signal or have a weak signal,” Meutya said in Jakarta on Tuesday. She added that better networks can also boost community economic activity and support government programmes such as Sekolah Rakyat and Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih. “The existence of connectivity will open up public access to education, health, digital government services, and economic opportunities that were previously unreachable in these villages or sub-districts,” Meutya stated. Beyond equitable internet access, the government is also requiring the winners to accelerate the development of 5G networks in Indonesia. Meutya is targeting spectrum management that will increase 5G network coverage to 51 percent of the national population within five years. The government also aims for mobile broadband speeds to reach up to 100 Mbps by 2029. “This frequency auction is expected not only to improve connectivity but also to enhance service quality, particularly internet speed in Indonesia,” Meutya said. In addition to improving internet services, the spectrum management is expected to generate additional Non-Tax State Revenue of approximately Rp6 trillion in the initial phase, with total projected state revenue reaching Rp30 trillion over a 10-year period. “So, this added economic value for the country will certainly be reinvested in pro-people development programmes,” Meutya concluded.