Accelerate Telecommunication Infrastructure Development in Papua
Muhamad Rosyid Jazuli — June 2021
In Indonesia, susah sinyal or poor cellular signal, is a term that is very commonly heard. It is very well known in various areas outside Java which is the economic center of this nation. However, in fact in some places in Java, there is still such a signal reception problem.
This signal reception difficulty represents minimal or no telecommunication reception, especially cellular reception, in Indonesia. The problem of accessing this type of infrastructure is still a piece of serious homework for the Indonesian government, regardless of the era or administration. This difficulty has also caused some regions, especially Papua, to experience social and economic development lags or problems.
One of the obstacles that cause inequality in access to telecommunications is natural factors. Currently, eastern Indonesia, especially Papua, has been supported by the Manokwari-Jayapura Sea Cable Communication System (SKKL) as a backup network for the SMPCS or Sulawesi Maluku Papua Cable System. Unfortunately, this SMPCS is often interrupted or even cut due to natural factors.
Until mid-2021, it is recorded that there have been four cases of broken fiber-optic cables in Papuan waters. The first incident was in the Biak-Jayapura waters on April 20, 2015. The second was in the Sarmi waters due to the earthquake on October 17, 2017. Further, the earthquake in the Sarmi-Biak waters on April 6, 2018, cut the fiber cable again.
Lately, an internet connection failure has been happening in Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Keerom Regency, and Sarmi Regency since April 30, 2021. General Manager of PT Telkom Papua Telecommunications Business Area, Sugeng Widodo, said the internet connection problem was due to a broken fiber optic cable in Sarmi waters (Bisnis.com, 30/5/2021).
The government, in fact, continues to restore the internet network in Papua in stages by using microwave links, radio links, and various other facilities (Kompas.com, 17/5/2021). However, apart from natural problems, the lack of cellular operators willing to build telecommunication services in Papua is also another challenging obstacle.
Currently, cellular service infrastructure in Papua is still dominated by one company, namely Telkomsel. Those who live or have been to Papua must have heard some warning by colleagues or friends if they go to the area, be prepared to use a Telkomsel number because most likely other operators cannot be used because of the absence of service.
Various experts certainly regret this situation. For example, a senior cellular observer, also a member of the National Information and Communication Technology Council (Wantiknas) Garuda Sugardo lamented the gaps in the development of telecommunications infrastructure in Papua. Because for 20 years, it is only Telkom that has wanted to build telecommunication infrastructure in this area (Kompas.com, 26/01/2017). Therefore, it is not surprising that there are often problems related to telecommunications and data transmission in Papua.
The public does appreciate the commitment of President Joko Widodo, who wants to close the telecommunications infrastructure gap in Papua. Such a development is certainly necessary to encourage development in Papua, which has not been at its optimal speed until now.
During this pandemic, when distance learning was implemented, the issue of susah sinyal became a public protest, especially in Papua. The education process, which has not been running optimally so far there, seems to worsen because it must be distance learning, but access to telecommunications is still not optimal.
In addition to problems in insufficient political and bureaucratic will from the government, the private sector is also unwilling to develop its business in Papua. For this reason, though, network sharing declared by the Ministry of Communication and Information during the then-minister Rudiantara era needs to be echoed as a viable solution for the telecommunication development in Papua. This step can be a collaborative space for public-private sectors in strengthening the telecommunication network in Papua.
The not yet optimal development of telecommunications infrastructure is very closely related to the bureaucracy’s and governmental decision-making’ and management’s ineffectiveness. But of course, security issues, especially in Papua, are also a consideration. This means that the role of the local governments in Papua, which Native Papuans have led, should continue to be exercised and optimized. Because what determines whether the area is safe or not is largely the work of regional leaders and their apparatus.
In addition, the communication strategy, and the handling of social problems by the government also need to be improved. The public certainly remembers how the central government decided to temporarily cut off the internet network in Papua during times of conflict in 2019. Of course, it was not a wise policy choice. Because the reality was that telecommunications were not optimal, and its access was even reduced.
However, this article also wants to emphasize that the lack of optimal access to telecommunications in Papua is not a mere political problem. In this sense, the explanation above should shed significant light that the problem is indeed multifaceted, affected by natural factors, insufficient public-private collaboration, etc.
It is too simple to argue that the problem of telecommunication access in Papua is merely political. Usually, those who think so are those who do not understand the context of Indonesia, let alone Papua.
Meanwhile, in Papua, many parties continue their efforts to improve development there. For example, some parties voluntarily provide access to better education and schools and access to telecommunications at the community level. Regardless of the shortcomings, the wise will focus on providing strategic recommendations such as budget efficiency, reallocation of special autonomy funds for telecommunications, etc., instead of creating wholly un-contextual and baseless accusations. (*)
This piece fully represents the writer’s idea. It does not express any ideas or stances of specific institutions or organizations he works at or is affiliated with.
