Prabowo’s 100 Mbps Vision: Can the Open Access Strategy Finally Supercharge Indonesia's Internet?

The administration of President Prabowo Subianto, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), has set a bold benchmark for the nation: boosting Indonesia's internet speeds to a baseline of 100 Mbps. To turn this vision into reality, the government is looking at a specific regulatory maneuver known as the 'open access' scheme for new frequency spectrums. While the goal is widely applauded, industry experts are raising flags about potential technical and legal hurdles that could stall the momentum.

The Urgency of the Speed Gap

Telecommunications expert Heru Sutadi from the ICT Institute emphasizes that upgrading Indonesia's digital infrastructure is no longer just a 'nice-to-have'—it is a necessity. As neighboring countries in Southeast Asia continue to pull ahead, Indonesia risks falling further behind in the global digital economy.

Data from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index paints a sobering picture. Currently, Indonesia’s average mobile internet speed hovers around 40 Mbps, while fixed broadband lags even further at 34 Mbps. These figures place Indonesia significantly lower than many of its regional peers, making the 100 Mbps target an ambitious leap that requires more than just incremental changes.

Open Access: A Solution with a History

The government’s primary strategy involves implementing an open access scheme, specifically targeting the 1.4 GHz frequency band. The concept of open access isn't entirely new in Indonesia. As Heru points out, it has been successfully utilized in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands, where spectrum costs are effectively zero and the airwaves are shared. However, these unlicensed bands often suffer from extreme congestion and interference because everyone is using the same space.

The 1.4 GHz band is being earmarked to revive Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services for local fixed networks. The idea is to mandate network providers to open their infrastructure to all other players. This strategy is designed to make internet penetration faster and more cost-efficient by removing the need for every single operator to build redundant infrastructure from scratch.

Lessons from the Past: The Legal Minefield

Despite the potential for efficiency, Heru Sutadi warns that the transition to shared paid spectrum is fraught with legal risks. Historically, spectrum in Indonesia is allocated exclusively. If Operator A is granted a frequency, the signal is legally tied to their subscribers. Sharing this paid resource between multiple operators could lead to complex legal interpretations.

Heru points to the infamous IM2 case as a critical precedent. In that instance, the sharing of frequency led to severe legal repercussions that sent shockwaves through the telecommunications industry for years. To prevent history from repeating itself, Komdigi is reportedly involving law enforcement agencies early in the process. The goal is to create a clear legal framework that protects operators while they implement these new sharing models.

The 'Vorijder' for Fiber Optics

Beyond just immediate speed boosts, the 1.4 GHz frequency is being positioned as a 'vorijder'—a pathfinder or outrider—to clear the way for wider fiber optic deployment. By using this frequency as the primary access point for customers, the government hopes to create a more seamless bridge to high-capacity fiber networks.

Wayan, a representative from Komdigi, explained that this policy aims to make the industry more efficient in terms of investment. Instead of capital-heavy deployments that take years to reach rural areas, this hybrid approach could provide high-capacity services at much more affordable rates for the public. If successful, the 100 Mbps dream could be within reach, transforming Indonesia's digital landscape from a regional laggard to a competitive powerhouse.