Indonesia to romp into the information age
Indonesia to romp into the information age
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is set to storm the information age by
establishing a telecommunications system dubbed "Nusantara 21" to
give cities access to the national information network.
Nusantara 21 will link information superhighway networks
between Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, Jonathan Parapak,
Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications, said yesterday.
Major cities and district capitals should be hooked-up by the
year 2001, Parapak said.
"By that time, it is hoped that educational, health, trade,
science, tourism, public service and government applications will
have been developed," Parapak said.
Such a network of services could enhance educational, trade
and development activities, he added.
The formulation of the Nusantara 21 network is in the works at
the ministry, said Parapak at a seminar at the Indonesian
Institute of Science.
A number of obstacles still need to be overcome in the
telecommunications field, which currently still has low telephone
penetration and limited access, he said.
There is only an estimated two telephones for every 100 people
in the country, and the question of low quality and dependency on
imported technology needs to be addressed, he said.
To remedy the situation, Indonesia has no choice but to leap-
frog problems in the utilization of technology, he said.
The private sector should be included in the development and
servicing of telecommunications, a field still very much
government controlled.
Other efforts should include accelerating human resources
development, gearing the national industry toward independence,
and engaging in strategic cooperation with world class operators,
he said.
Continued deregulation is needed along with the adoption of
"Indonesian style" competition to optimize quality and
efficiency, he said.
While Parapak was buoyant about the prospects of a national
information highway, there remain questions concerning the social
effects of rapid information flow to be discussed.
Retired general Soemitro voiced concerns about possible
psychological impacts, questioning the readiness of rural
Indonesians to grasp, and place in proper context, the glut of
information.
"Psychologically, it could aggravate social disparities
further if villagers see how people in the cities live," said
Soemitro who is known for his insightful political commentaries.
He stressed the importance of education in grappling with the
information age.
Other concerns noted were the likely political effects of
bureaucratic transparency, as accelerated access to information
would allow people in far off corners of the country to gain
immediate knowledge of the business of government.
Parapak said the information age was unstoppable and that
various parameters would change because of it.
"Transparency is a given, and that also means a new kind of
(political) leadership," he remarked. (mds)