Telkomsat Inaugurates Wamena Community Gateway, Strengthening Inclusive Digital Access in the Papua Pegunungan Region

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom), together with its operating company PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia (Telkomsat), inaugurated the Community Gateway at the Wamena Earth Station, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua, on Friday (8/5). This initiative represents a strategic step by the TelkomGroup to strengthen and expand the equitable distribution of digital infrastructure in regions with challenging geographical conditions in eastern Indonesia, while also enhancing national connectivity through the utilisation of satellite technology.

The infrastructure was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Angga Raka Prabowo, accompanied by the President Director of Telkom Indonesia, Dian Siswarini; the Acting President Director of Telkomsat, Rizal Ahmad Fauzi; and witnessed by the Director of Wholesale and International Service at Telkom Indonesia, Budi Satria Dharma Purba; as well as hybrid participation from Wamena by the Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, Dr. Velix Wanggai, S.I.P., M.P.A.; the Deputy Governor of Papua Pegunungan Province, Dr. Ones Pahabol, S.E., M.M.; the Director of Network at Telkom, Nanang Hendarno; and the Director of Development at Telkomsat, Anggoro Kurnianto Widiawan.

The Acting President Director of Telkomsat, Rizal Ahmad Fauzi, stated that the Wamena Community Gateway is a satellite gateway infrastructure that functions as the primary distribution point for connectivity in the Papua Pegunungan region. “Satellite technology has the advantage of reaching areas with challenging geographical conditions such as the mountains of Papua, which cannot be fully covered by terrestrial networks. Through the Wamena Community Gateway, connectivity can be delivered more quickly, more widely, and more adaptively to support the communication needs of the community, public services, and the development of the digital economy in the region. The presence of this infrastructure also forms part of strengthening the national connectivity ecosystem based on reliable and sustainable sovereign infrastructure,” emphasised Rizal Ahmad Fauzi.

In line with this, the President Director of Telkom Indonesia, Dian Siswarini, conveyed that the Wamena area and its surroundings play a strategic role as a centre of economic and social activities in Papua Pegunungan. “Connectivity is the right of all Indonesian people, without exception. From the centre to the mountainous regions of Papua, we want to ensure that no child of the nation is left behind in the flow of digital transformation. However, this region also faces significant challenges in terms of connectivity, both due to limitations in terrestrial networks and difficult geographical conditions. To address these challenges, the TelkomGroup is presenting the Wamena Community Gateway as a strategic solution,” she stated.

The Wamena Community Gateway is the second facility built by the TelkomGroup through Telkomsat, an operating company engaged in providing international-standard satellite technology and services, following the one previously built in Merauke with a different function. The Merauke Community Gateway was constructed as a backup link to ensure services continue during terrestrial network disruptions, whereas the Wamena Community Gateway was built as the main link or primary backbone of connectivity in the Papua Pegunungan region. Thus, the approach is no longer merely risk mitigation but has entered the stage of strengthening core capacity and improving service quality.

With satellite technology, this initiative not only enhances the capacity and quality of connectivity but also strengthens national network resilience through more reliable and adaptive communication pathways. In line with the TelkomGroup’s mandate to deliver value for the nation, this connectivity enhancement is expected to open up more inclusive digital access, encourage economic activities, and accelerate sustainable growth in eastern Indonesia.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, Dr. Velix Wanggai, S.I.P., M.P.A., stated that the presence of the Wamena Community Gateway marks a significant milestone in development in the mountainous Papua region. The involvement of Telkom and Telkomsat through satellite connectivity solutions is seen as a concrete step to reach brothers and sisters in the mountainous Papua region in creating progress and a bright future.

In response, the Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Angga Raka Prabowo, stated that the construction of the Community Gateway in Wamena is part of the national priority work programme in efforts to build inclusive digital infrastructure up to the easternmost regions of Indonesia. “Connectivity is the primary prerequisite for progress. This is where the Wamena Community Gateway plays an important role, turning geographical challenges into strategic opportunities, transforming the region to be ready to grow and ready to participate in the national digital economy. We are not only building infrastructure but also strengthening the foundation of a truly connected future Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke. The next task is to ensure that this infrastructure truly comes alive and is utilised by the entire community, especially in the Papua Pegunungan region,” concluded Angga.

Currently, the network transport capacity in Wamena is around 7 Gbps with a high utilisation rate. Through the Wamena Community Gateway, the capacity can be increased gradually up to a maximum potential of 40 Gbps.

This is not only an increase in capacity but also a leap in connectivity quality with more stable performance, more controlled latency, and the ability to support growing traffic needs. Furthermore, the Wamena Community Gateway is designed as an open access platform, meaning this infrastructure can not only be utilised by the TelkomGroup but also by various parties such as operators, local ISPs, or other institutions, thereby