Palapa Ring central package broadband project undergoes speed test

PALAPA RING - JAKARTA. Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara held on Wednesday a speed test on the central package of the Palapa Ring broadband project, the construction of which was completed on Dec. 21.

During the speed test, Rudiantara made a video call from Muhajirin Baru village, Morotai regency in North Maluku with Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo, who was in Jakarta.

“Imagine that in the near future, the village minister can communicate directly with three village heads simply through cellular phone. It is the rapid development of technology that we could utilize,” said Rudiantara in a statement.

Rudiantara also made another video call with Raden Dradjad Air Force base commander Air Force Col. Prasetiya Halim, who was in Ranai, Natuna, Riau Islands. Prasetiya made the call through the west package of the Palapa Ring broadband project.

Rudiantara said the development of the communication infrastructure by the ministry’s Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (Bakti) would complement infrastructure owned by operators.

“Operators usually focus on the areas that are feasible from a business point of view, while Bakti focuses on the areas that are not feasible,” Rudi added.

Bakti infrastructure director Bambang Noegroho said the broadband project was aimed at expanding people’s access to the internet and other communication technology.

He said the capacity of the central ring reached 100 gigabytes per second, while the capacity of the Morotai Terminal Station reached up to 40 megabytes per second (Mbps) and the capacity in areas close to the Morotai City Park reached up to 30 Mbps from the initial speed of only 2 Mbps.