Jakarta, September 18, 2024, The Europe Today – Indonesian Minister of Communication and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, announced on Tuesday that his ministry has made significant progress in advancing Indonesia’s digital transformation over the past year. He emphasized major accomplishments, including the completion of base transceiver stations (BTS) and a crackdown on online gambling.
One of the ministry’s notable achievements was the successful installation of approximately 5,000 BTS units, which had previously been delayed. “By the end of last year, we completed around 5,000 BTS installations that had previously stalled,” Setiadi stated. The inauguration of the BTS installations in late 2023 was led by President Joko Widodo, in conjunction with the launch of the Republic of Indonesia-1 Satellite (SATRIA-1).
These infrastructure developments are part of the broader effort to enhance equitable connectivity across Indonesia, a cornerstone of the 2021–2024 Digital Indonesia Road Map, which aims to promote nationwide digital transformation.
Setiadi also highlighted the ministry’s success in combating online gambling, reporting that its prevalence has been reduced by nearly 50 percent. “We are not yet fully satisfied with eradicating online gambling. Therefore, we continue to enhance our measures,” he added.
According to data from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, as of September 11, 2024, the ministry has blocked access to 3,277,834 instances of online gambling content. In collaboration with Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority, 573 e-wallet accounts and 7,499 bank accounts linked to online gambling activities have been closed.
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) also reported a significant decrease in online gambling deposits, which fell to Rp34.49 trillion (approximately US$2.24 billion) by July 2024.
As he enters the final months of his leadership, Setiadi stressed his commitment to further strengthening Indonesia’s digital ecosystem. The ministry has introduced several regulations aimed at supporting the growth of information and communication technology, including a circular on artificial intelligence ethics, as part of this ongoing effort.
