Mitigation plans have been prepared, although Labuan Bajo has relatively less disaster potentials than other regions.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Communication and Informatics Ministry will prepare mobile internet services in Golo Mori, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, which will become one of the venues for the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

"Mobile internet services will be provided by (state-run mobile network operator) Telkomsel," Director General of Public Information and Communication at the ministry Usman Kansong noted in a statement on Sunday.

The services will be provided to expand coverage and improve the quality of internet networks in the region, he remarked.

Telkom Group, the parent company of Telkomsel, is currently upgrading the capacity and quality of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in Golo Mori and Labuan Bajo, NTT Province.

"It is scheduled to be completed in the second week of April (2023)," the director general noted.

Kansong remarked that his side had not encountered difficulties in preparing the telecommunications network in Labuan Bajo, as the area was one of the venues for the 2022 G20 side events, so 4G and 5G networks had been established in the region.

"Currently, the most important work is maintaining (the networks). There must be no disruption, either intentionally or accidentally," he remarked.

The ministry has prepared a 3,773.73-kilometer-long fiber optic (FO) network, with 2,055 optical distribution points (ODP) in Labuan Bajo. In addition, the region has 1,635 4G base transceiver stations (BTS) and three 5G BTS.

The 4G network has covered 78 percent of the total area of Labuan Bajo.

Furthermore, Kansong stated that his side had prepared contingency and mitigation plans for the implementation of the ASEAN Summit scheduled to take place in May 2023 in Labuan Bajo and in September 2023 in Jakarta.

"Mitigation plans have been prepared, although Labuan Bajo has relatively less disaster potentials than other regions," he noted.

The government has planned to build a National Data Center (PDN) in Labuan Bajo in addition to other areas, i.e., in the Deltamas Industrial Estate, West Java; Nongsa Digital Park Batam, Riau Islands; and Indonesia’s future capital (IKN) Nusantara, East Kalimantan, he remarked.

Indonesia is holding the ASEAN chairmanship from January 1 to December 31, 2023, with the theme of "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth."

During its chairmanship, Indonesia raises three priority economic issues: rebuilding regional growth, connectivity, and new competitiveness; accelerating inclusive digital economy transformation and participation; and promoting sustainability economic growth for a resilient future.

Related news: BPOLBF, NTT govt prepare local products for ASEAN Summit
Related news: Registration for media covering ASEAN Summit opens April 1

Translator: Cindy Octavia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023