Efforts to increase fast internet access in Papua have shown significant progress with various initiatives from the government and the private sector. OneĀ importantĀ step is the launch of the Satria-1 satellite in 2023Ā whichĀ aims to expand internet access in remote and underdeveloped areas, including Papua. Satria-1Ā is designedĀ to provide internet services at more than 50,000 public facility points with speeds of up to 4 Mbps at eachĀ point.
In addition,Ā the presence ofĀ satellite-based internet services such as VSAT Star from Telkomsat alsoĀ playsĀ aĀ keyĀ role in improving connectivity in theĀ Papua Mountains region.Ā This serviceĀ is capable of providingĀ internet speeds of up to 200 Mbps per point, which is very helpful in overcoming connectivity constraints in remote areas.
Not only that, private companies such as Starlink have also entered the Indonesian market by providing high-speed internet services. Starlink offers two types of services, namely for corporations with speeds of up to 500 Mbps and for retail with speeds of up to 250 Mbps. The presence of StarlinkĀ is expectedĀ to encourage equitable distribution of fast internet access throughout Indonesia, including Papua, althoughĀ it still requiresĀ goodĀ industry governance arrangements to maintain data security and existing regulations.
With these various initiatives, internet access in PapuaĀ is expectedĀ to continue to improve, supporting the education, health, and government administration sectors,Ā as well asĀ encouraging digital economic growth in the region.
Starlink, a satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has begun operations in Papua to improve internet access in the region. Starlink provides high-speedĀ internet, reaching up to 200 Mbps per point, whichĀ greatlyĀ helps remote areasĀ that wereĀ previously difficult to reach by conventional internet services.
One of the major implementations of Starlink in Papua is in Pegunungan Bintang Regency (Pegubin). The Pegubin local government, in collaboration with Telkomsat, a subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia, has installed Starlink satellite internet services at various strategic points to support digital-based government operations. With Starlink, Pegubin can increase internet speeds to 250 Mbps, much higher than the previous serviceĀ whichĀ only reached 82 Mbps.
This projectĀ not onlyĀ supports governmentĀ offices,Ā but alsoĀ improves internet access in public facilities such as hospitals, schools, and other official offices.Ā ThisĀ aims to improve the efficiency of public services and support digital transformation in the Papua region.
Starlink’s presence in PapuaĀ is expectedĀ to reduce the digital divide, allowing people in remote areas to enjoy fast internet servicesĀ that wereĀ previously only available in urban areas.Ā ThisĀ is anĀ importantĀ step in supporting economic, educational, and social growthĀ in the region.
Papua,Ā with its geographical and infrastructure challenges, faces various difficulties in accessing quality education.Ā TheĀ internetĀ playsĀ an importantĀ role in overcomingĀ some ofĀ these challenges, especially in providingĀ widerĀ and more diverse educational resources for students and teachers.
Education in Papua is still lagging compared to other provinces in Indonesia. Papua’s Human Development Index and student learning outcomes are among the lowest in the country. Many schools in remote areas lack basic facilities such as proper buildings, libraries, and laboratories. In addition, teacher recruitment and retention in 3T (underdeveloped, frontier, outermost) areas is also aĀ majorĀ challenge.Ā
TheĀ InternetĀ is a vital tool in improving the accessibility and quality of education in Papua. Kominfo’s BAKTI program, for example, has installed internet access in hundreds of education, health, and government locations in Papua. Through initiatives such as the Palapa Ring, fiber optic infrastructure has been built to connect various regions in Indonesia, including Papua, enablingĀ widerĀ internet connectivity. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift to distance learning (PJJ), highlighting the urgent need for internet access in Papua. Only around 29.5% of households in Papua have internet access, making it difficult for many students toĀ take partĀ in online learning.Ā To address this,Ā various government programs and collaborations with the private sector have provided internet quota assistance and ICT training for teachers.Ā VariousĀ initiatives haveĀ been takenĀ to support education in Papua. For example, the KIHAJAR TIK Talks event organized by Pusdatin Kemdikbud focused on offline internet solutions for learning in remote areas. The program highlighted the importance of combining online and offline methods to overcome network limitations in rural areas.
With infrastructure support and training programs, itĀ is hopedĀ that teachers in Papua can better optimize technology in the learning process.Ā Increased ICT awareness and skills among educatorsĀ as well asĀ studentsĀ are expectedĀ toĀ have a positive impact onĀ academic achievement and open up wider career opportunities for young Papuans.Ā Transforming education in Papua requires continuous collaboration between the government, educational institutions, local communities, and various stakeholders. With better internet access and technology support, education in Papua can become more inclusive and sustainable, paving the way for a brighter future for children in this region.