The inaugural event was conducted via video conferencing.
In a statement received here on Friday, Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G Plate, said President Joko Widodo is currently very interested in a massive infrastructure push to help develop West Manggarai’s Labuan Bajo and Komodo as Super Priority Tourism Destinations.
“(This would) include building facilities like airport, harbor, roads, all of which are tangible, visible to the eyes. However, building telecommunications, including laying out fiber optics on sea beds, is not visible work, but needs to still be done and results in access to signal for us," the minister explained.
The construction of BTS towers in Labuan Bajo is among the government's programs to address the gap in Internet availability and ensure all regions, especially the disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost areas, get connected to 4G internet.
Meanwhile, president director of the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI), Anang Latif, stated that the construction of the towers is part of the government's commitment to developing Super Priority Tourism Destinations.
"The BTS towers that we will inaugurate are part of the 21 BTS development program for super priority destinations, 18 of which are in the East Nusa Tenggara province and three in the West Nusa Tenggara province," he informed.
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Of the 18 BTS towers that have been built, four are in Komodo district.
Apart from getting connected to the Internet through the construction of BTS towers, people in the village will also get free Internet access for public services, said Minister Plate.
He then invited the people of Labuan Bajo to actively participate in national development using the communication and information technology infrastructure.
"I maintain my belief that successful development can be achieved if the involvement and participation of the community continues. The community should not be spectators, but become active participants in our national development, including in Komodo Island," he remarked.
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Translator: Natisha Andarningtyas/Aria Cin
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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