In the easternmost edge of Indonesia, where towering mountains meet vast seas, a quiet transformation is taking place. Among children in rural Papua—where the internet is scarce, and schools struggle with limited resources—Telkomsel is bringing both learning tools and digital connection.
Through its flagship CSR initiative, “Sambungkan Senyuman” (Connecting Smiles), Telkomsel Papua has extended support to Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School), community-based schools that serve underprivileged children. The company’s effort to distribute school bags, stationery, and Orbit internet modems is creating new pathways for inclusion, education, and hope across Jayapura and Biak.
Education in Papua: Between Isolation and Aspiration
Papua’s children face some of the toughest educational barriers in Indonesia. Many villages are reachable only by boat or dirt roads that vanish in the rainy season. Teachers often work with minimal supplies, while students share worn-out textbooks or study without electricity.
These conditions have made it nearly impossible for schools to benefit from Indonesia’s national digital-learning initiatives. But Telkomsel’s program is beginning to change that. According to Antara News and Suara Pembaruan, Telkomsel Papua recently provided hundreds of schoolbags, writing tools, and Orbit devices to schools in Jayapura and Biak as part of its continuing CSR drive.
For the students, the new supplies symbolize far more than objects—they represent acknowledgment and connection. They mean someone sees them, someone cares, and someone believes they deserve the same opportunities as children in Jakarta or Surabaya.
“Sambungkan Senyuman”: From Giving to Empowering
Telkomsel’s CSR program Sambungkan Senyuman seeks to bridge not only infrastructure gaps but emotional and social ones. The initiative targets 3T areas (terdepan, terluar, tertinggal—frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped regions) where access to information and technology remains limited.
The assistance extended to Sekolah Rakyat includes Telkomsel Orbit modems, a practical solution for providing reliable wireless internet even in areas with challenging geography. Once connected, schools can access online materials, join virtual training programs, and communicate directly with education offices and other schools.
In his statement, Agus Sumirat, Telkomsel’s General Manager for Maluku and Papua, said:
“We believe that education is the foundation of a better future. Through the Sambungkan Senyuman program, we want to provide real support to children in Papua—so they can learn comfortably and connect with the world.”
The initiative is more than an act of charity; it’s a deliberate investment in human capital. By bringing internet access and learning tools into the same effort, Telkomsel is helping transform schools from isolated institutions into connected communities of learning.
Connecting the Unconnected: Overcoming the 3T Barriers
Papua’s classification as a 3T region highlights the long-standing challenge of digital inequality. In many parts of the province, telecommunications infrastructure is minimal, and power outages remain frequent. Building and maintaining connectivity infrastructure is expensive due to Papua’s mountainous topography.
Yet Telkomsel’s CSR model shows how technology can overcome geography. The Orbit modem is a game-changer—compact, portable, and easy to maintain. It allows schools to access the internet using Telkomsel’s mobile network, even where traditional broadband cables cannot reach.
This breakthrough enables teachers to download digital teaching materials, join online workshops, and introduce students to e-learning platforms. For children, it means the first exposure to interactive lessons and educational videos—opening their imagination to possibilities far beyond their village boundaries.
Through connectivity, Telkomsel helps bring the Indonesian education ecosystem closer to every child, regardless of where they live.
The Human Side of Digital Inclusion
When the Telkomsel team arrived at the schools, children’s laughter filled the air. Their faces lit up as they received their first brand-new backpacks and writing sets. Teachers described how this simple gesture rekindled motivation among students, some of whom had stopped attending classes due to lack of supplies.
Beyond materials, the internet connection itself brought an emotional shift. For many, it was their first time seeing educational videos, using online dictionaries, or communicating via video call. “The children were amazed to see pictures move on the screen,” one teacher was quoted as saying.
Parents also joined the sessions to learn how to manage online access safely. This inclusive approach created a shared sense of ownership, strengthening community support for the schools. Telkomsel’s Sambungkan Senyuman program, therefore, functions not only as CSR but as community empowerment—encouraging collaboration between parents, educators, and local leaders.
Challenges Beyond Connectivity
Despite its successes, the initiative still faces obstacles. Power outages remain a persistent issue in rural Papua, and maintaining connectivity over long periods is costly. The Orbit modems require stable mobile signals and periodic data top-ups, which depend on local coordination and continuous funding.
Moreover, the human side of education—teacher training, localized learning materials, and ongoing digital literacy programs—remains essential. Technology can empower, but only if teachers and students know how to harness it effectively.
Another challenge is scalability. With hundreds of Sekolah Rakyat scattered across Papua, expanding the program to cover a larger number of schools will require sustained collaboration between Telkomsel, local governments, and education authorities. Still, these early steps in Jayapura and Biak could serve as a pilot model for broader application across eastern Indonesia.
CSR in the Era of ESG: A New Standard for Impact
Telkomsel’s work in Papua reflects a growing evolution in corporate responsibility. Modern CSR is no longer about short-term donations—it’s about creating measurable, long-term social impact aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
By focusing on education and digital inclusion, Telkomsel demonstrates how private companies can complement government development priorities. The initiative directly supports Indonesia’s national agenda for digital transformation and human-capital development, especially in remote areas.
More importantly, the program conveys a message of equality. In Papua—where communities have long felt marginalized—such initiatives serve as reminders that development should leave no one behind. They represent not just corporate presence, but solidarity, empathy, and partnership in nation-building.
Sustaining the Momentum: The Road Ahead
For Telkomsel, the mission is far from complete. The company continues to explore partnerships that can make digital inclusion more sustainable in Papua’s unique environment. Future initiatives may involve integrating renewable energy, such as solar-powered routers, to ensure uninterrupted connectivity even in villages without electricity.
Collaboration with educational content creators and NGOs could further localize learning materials in indigenous languages, helping children relate better to their studies. Telkomsel’s long-term goal is to build an ecosystem where technology supports—not replaces—human connection and community resilience.
As the Sambungkan Senyuman program expands, it holds potential to serve as a model for other corporate CSR projects in frontier regions. The formula is simple yet powerful: combine empathy with innovation, and focus on inclusion rather than publicity.
Conclusion
On a quiet morning in Jayapura, a group of children in red-and-white uniforms gather around a glowing screen for the first time. A video lesson plays—a teacher from Jakarta explaining the solar system. Their eyes widen in wonder. Outside, a small Telkomsel Orbit modem hums softly, its signal reaching beyond the schoolyard into the mountains.
That small signal represents something extraordinary: hope, equality, and the promise of progress. Through its Sambungkan Senyuman initiative, Telkomsel has turned corporate responsibility into a story of transformation—one that bridges digital divides and gives Papua’s next generation the tools to dream bigger.
The children of Sekolah Rakyat are no longer isolated by geography. They are connected—to knowledge, to opportunity, and to the rest of Indonesia. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful connection of all.