This commitment was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid and Village Development Minister Yandri Susanto in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“Today’s meeting resulted in an MoU between our ministries. With this agreement, we will accelerate efforts to connect villages across Indonesia,” Hafid said following the signing.
Both ministries are currently reconciling data on villages without internet access. Komdigi estimates around 2,300 villages remain offline, while the Village Ministry places the number closer to 3,000.
The two ministries aim to harmonize their data to prioritize infrastructure development, with implementation scheduled to begin in 2026.
“We’ll start with data that shows minimal discrepancies and refine it to identify which villages should be prioritized for connectivity in 2026,” Hafid explained.
Minister Susanto stressed that internet access is essential for advancing village development. Flagship programs such as Export-Oriented Villages, Tourism Villages, and downstreaming of village products depend on reliable connectivity.
“Hopefully, this MoU will accelerate our work at the village level, especially in resolving signal and internet challenges,” he said.
The collaboration will be followed by a data-sharing agreement and a plan to prioritize villages based on their development potential.
“We’ll identify which villages require intervention first, as this relates directly to their potential,” Susanto added.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring optimal internet connectivity in digital villages, supporting the growth of the regional digital economy.
Previously, the Village Ministry set a target to transform all 75,265 Indonesian villages into digitally empowered communities.
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Translator: Farhan, Kenzu
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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