JakWIFI Launched, City Provides Free Internet Access for All

Towards a city service standard based on Information and Communication Technology in providing easy access to internet for all, Jakarta Government launched the Internet for All - JakWIFI program.

JakWIFI is a program to improve the quality of public service by providing free WiFi access throughout 5 municipalities and 1 regency of Jakarta

JakWIFI is a program to improve the quality of public service by providing free WiFi access throughout 5 municipalities and 1 regency of Jakarta that are not covered by free internet services. Currently, this program is focused on densely populated areas.

Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan launched JakWIFI virtually together with mayors and regent in each regions, Jakarta Government apparatuses, Chairman of the Technology Network Providers Association (APJATEL), President Director of PT. Bali Towerindo Sentra, and community representatives on this Friday (8/28).

Legislator Wants City to Provide Free Internet Access for Poor Students

He mentioned that JakWIFI has a wider purpose. Not only for education, but also a part of the provision of urban infrastructure and expansion of internet access for residents needs in various sectors, from education, economy/business, government services, and citizen communication.

"This afternoon, we witnessed the signing of cooperation agreement and it is a symbol of our commitment for advancing Jakarta by taking advantage of opportunities. When the pandemic occurs, many of us have to change the learning patterns, work patterns. Something that is used to be done at close range, now it can be done remotely. At one side it presents challenges, but the other side is opportunity. So, what happens now is called a transformation," he said as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release, Friday (8/28).

According to him, crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic was an accelerated change through the growing awareness of digital technology. Therefore, Jakarta Government hopes JakWIFI policy can be put to good use, especially for children in doing distance learning.

"With this free WiFi access, we hope Jakartans can be involved in digital activities. Not merely as consumers of information in digital world, but they can be come content creators, content suppliers, because in this digital activity, people can become consumers and producers. Free WiFi access must be used not only to absorb information, but also to create information. Also for our children. We hope that later we can learn to use free WiFi and contribute in providing inputs, ideas to make distance learning process more fun and easier," he conveyed.

Currently, there are 4,956 access points whose capacity is being upgraded gradually. The expansion of free WiFi access is targeted to reach more than 9,000 access points over the next two months

Expansion of free WiFi access will be carried out in three schemes. First, it is through Jakarta Government services in government buildings, parks, RPTRA, state schools, and areas that are not reached or not in demand for free internet service providers. Second is collaborating through the use of shared access points with telecommunication service providers and the provision of access points through corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. Information regarding the access points and its expansion can be checked via JAKI (Jakarta Kini) app.

Jakarta Communication, Information, and Statistic (Kominfotik) Agency Head, Atika Nur Rahmania stated, during COVID-19 pandemic, people are required to adapt to the lifestyle that limits interactions between humans and optimize the use of technology. It spurred Jakarta Government to transform Jakarta as a Digital Driven City, by changing the governance process, public services, and the way citizens interact and communicate in digital way.

"The challenge in making Jakarta as a Digital Driven City is the ability to create internet-based interactions and communications. It will certainly cause a high demand for internet access in all regions. Therefore, it needs short-term and long-term strategies in providing internet access in Jakarta up to 100 percent. Jakarta Government must also collaborate with all parties to ensure the right scheme to overcome the problem of inequality in providing internet access," she explained.

In its implementation, she said that Jakarta Kominfotik Agency has compiled a minimum technical specification guide that must be fulfilled by collaborators and internet service providers that cooperate with Jakarta Government.

"Hopefully, by providing free internet access to the citizens through Internet for All - JakWIFI program, it can be the first step in accelerating digital transformation of Jakarta citizens as a response to optimize opportunities in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. This step is also expected to be an accelerator that can make Jakarta becomes a Digital Driven City," she mentioned.