Indonesia Focus on building Digital Ecosystem in 2016

JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) will be swift and focus on building the ecosystem of the digital world started in 2016 in order to be one of the economic growth drivers.

"Reframing the 1,800 MHz frequency and the presence of 4G are only a small part of the great plan to build a digital ecosystem in Indonesia. Next year I will focus on building the ecosystem of the digital world beyond managing connectivity business, "said  Minister of Communications and Information Technology Rudiantara, lately.

The minister said that in building the digital ecosystem can not be separated from the Device, Network, and Application (DNA) concept. "For the network, we will try to pursue our setback in the Fixed Broadband. On the wireless, after this 4G we will try another frequency that has not been neutralized. Also from the backbone we also wanted to improve for the international route," Rudiantara said.

In terms of hardware, the government wants to encourage smartphones at an affordable price. "Hopefully the local content (DCL) regulation can be accessed by everyone," Rudiantara said. While on the application, there are already many encouraging signals where many 4G smartphones are detected in the operator's network.

"I received reports that there are millions of smartphones are listed on the network operator, it is a good start. Our homework now is to build an ecosystem for these applications. We are targeting to have thousands of start-ups within the next five years, with unicorn class or valued up to US $ 1 billion. We have never built a complete ecosystem, next year our focus is there," Rudiantara said.

Comfort
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the telecommunications industry claimed that they are comfortable with Rudiantara as the regulator.

"One that makes the industry is in its path because Minister Rudiantara is a problem solver, practical and pragmatic. He is quite objective to various problems and issues in the telecommunications industry, "said Chairman of the Telecommunications Association of Indonesia (ATSI) Alexander Rusli.

According to XL President Director Dian Siswarini is that having a minister with their industry's professional background is desirable.

"For the telecommunications world, Rudiantara is a bonus because besides having the professional background, the Minister is also classified as a" specialist "because he is playing in the telecommunications industry for nearly two decades," Dian said.

Dian added that his first year as the Minister of Informatics and Telecommunication Minister was meaningful. It was seen from his program that is not overwhelming but answering the fundamental problems of the nation.

"The minister is always talking about how to improve the industry efficiency, how to make all stakeholders healthier that ultimately will bring prosperity to the nation. Is not something new, but it will be carried out with focus, commitment, problem solving orientation and also proactively communicate with all stakeholders," Dian said.

Smartfren President Merza Fachys said that during the first year together with Minister Rudiantara has made telecommunication businesses sector have a positive impact.

"During this first year, Chief RA (Rudiantara popularly known) has provided fresh ideas that have been an inspiration to change the paradigm, mindset and work patterns throughout the communication and informatics community in Indonesia. Hopefully under the Chief RA leadership the informatics and communication industry will return to its former glory by providing maximum benefit for the actors, society and the state," Merza said.

Meanwhile, Tri Indonesia Deputy Director M Danny Budiansyah said that the minister still have a lot of homework to be done in the telecommunications industry. "The issues such as broadband, consolidation, and others," Danny said.

Telkomsel President Director Ririek Adriansyah expects that in the future Rudiantara could make the harmonization of frequency utilization.

"The telecommunications industry should be affordable for the public, sustainable for operators and of course also fair. Limited resources should be utilized to deliver maximum results for the community and the government," Ririek said.

Meanwhile, IndoTelko Forum Advisor Jhony Swandi Sjam reminded that the hardest jobs for the minister in the coming years are to make Indonesia as the host in the digital age.

"Connectivity building's result has been seen, the next battle is to organize the future of digital business. Do not let all of our foreign exchange for the digital economy are sucked out overseas," Jhony said. (Id)