FTTH and FWA: The Dynamic Duo Closing Indonesia's Digital Divide
Intan
from Orbitcore Editorial
Indonesia’s geographical landscape is a marvel, stretching from vast savannas to towering mountain ranges. However, this same beauty presents a monumental challenge for digital connectivity. Bridging the gap between the urban elite and remote villages requires more than just a single technological solution. In a deep-dive discussion held at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, industry experts and regulators reached a unanimous conclusion: the future of Indonesia’s connectivity lies in collaboration, not competition.
MyRepublic Indonesia, a major player in the broadband industry, is at the forefront of this mission. They emphasize that deployment strategies must be adaptive rather than rigid. While fiber optics remain the gold standard for high-speed internet, it is physically and economically impossible to lay cables across every inch of the archipelago. This is where the synergy between different technologies becomes critical.
Breaking the Myth of Competition
Hendra Gunawan, Chief Technology Officer of MyRepublic Indonesia, dismantled the common misconception that different internet technologies are fighting for the same territory. Instead, he views Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a specialized pair. FTTH is the heavy hitter, providing unmatched stability and massive bandwidth for high-density urban areas. On the other hand, FWA acts as the agile vanguard, capable of penetrating semi-urban regions where laying fiber would be too slow or costly.
According to Hendra, FTTH, FWA, and even cellular services are pieces of the same puzzle. The speed at which Indonesia can achieve total coverage depends heavily on regulatory support and incentives. By tailoring the technology to the specific needs of the customers and the physical constraints of the region, the industry can deliver connectivity that is high-quality, widespread, and—most importantly—affordable.
The Government’s Flexible Stance
Echoing this sentiment, Denny Setiawan, Director of Strategy and Digital Infrastructure Policy at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), noted that flexibility is the industry's greatest asset. Speaking at the ITB East Hall, Denny clarified that since fiber cables cannot reach every corner of the country, cellular and wireless solutions must step up to fill the gaps.
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To ensure that even the most isolated citizens have basic digital access, the government is prepared to deploy satellite technology. High-profile projects like Starlink and the Satria satellite are being positioned as essential backups for areas where traditional infrastructure fails to reach. This multi-layered approach ensures that no region is left behind in the dark.
Navigating the Bureaucratic Maze
However, technology is only half the battle. Ian Josef Matheus Edward, Chairman of the ITB Center for Telecommunications Policy and Industry Studies, pointed out a significant bottleneck: bureaucracy. He highlighted the frequent disconnect between central and regional government policies, which often adds unnecessary operational costs for telecom providers. These hidden costs eventually trickle down to the consumers, making internet access more expensive than it needs to be.
Ian argued that every Base Transceiver Station (BTS) built in the 3T regions (Frontier, Outermost, and Least Developed) is more than just a piece of hardware; it is a catalyst for economic growth. By 2029 or 2030, a truly interconnected Indonesia could revolutionize the way social assistance is distributed, making it more accurate and data-driven through integrated National Identification Numbers (NIK).
A Unified Digital Roadmap
The ambitious vision of achieving 100% internet access across Indonesia requires a healthy, thriving ecosystem. MyRepublic continues to expand its full fiber-optic network to support high-productivity needs, while simultaneously leaving the door open for wireless technologies in current blank spots.
The road ahead depends on the continued collaboration between academia, represented by institutions like ITB; regulators from Komdigi; industry associations like ATSI; and private sector leaders like MyRepublic. Together, they are crafting a digital roadmap that isn't just technologically advanced, but socially inclusive for every Indonesian citizen.