A recent worldwide survey of Internet download speeds placed Palembang and the East Java capital of Surabaya near the bottom of the pile, both finishing in the bottom 12 in average download speed. An Internet user in Surabaya reportedly has to wait for up to an hour to download a song off the Web, which in this day and age is unacceptable.
The two Indonesian cities were joined by cities in Algeria, Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela as among the slowest in the world.
Although no data was available on Jakarta, the capital fares much better as broadband coverage allows users to surf and download material at higher speeds.
Internet connectivity is crucial in today’s world, not just for individuals but for corporations as well. Without this vital infrastructure, it is a slow and laborious process for corporations to conduct business online, which limits productivity. When individuals are unable to download apps and other offerings on the Internet, it slows the growth of e-commerce.
Whether the problem lies with providers or the government remains unclear. But we need to ask why telecommunication companies such as Telkom, Indosat and Excelcom are not investing in increasing bandwidth in these fast-growing cities. The demand is clearly there, which means they would be able to recoup their investments sooner rather than later.
High-speed Internet is critical for economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness. It is needed for high-tech innovation, distance learning, rural development, e-government and public safety. If we do not provide efficient Internet in our major cities, Indonesia will not be able to compete with other countries for 21st-century industries.
Being on the wrong side of the digital divide means millions of Indonesians will left behind in the areas of higher education, health, civic participation and access to information.
The country must open up the Internet sector to more competition and have an open, neutral technology policy, where new technology is welcome.
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Quelle/Source: The Jakarta Globe, 22.09.2011
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