Jakarta, INTI - The Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) is urging greater telecommunications infrastructure efficiency, regulatory certainty, and standardized service quality to reduce internet costs in Indonesia. These measures are considered essential to expanding connectivity while maintaining healthy competition.
Syarif Lumintarjo, Head of IDNIC at APJII, identified three key areas for cooperation: shared passive infrastructure, more efficient connectivity and interconnection, and stronger public demand for internet services.
Speaking at the Bisnis Indonesia Forum: Driving Indonesia's Digital Economy Growth in Jakarta on October 20, 2026, Syarif emphasized the importance of fair access to utility poles and underground cable ducts. He noted that shared infrastructure requires clear technical regulations tailored to Indonesia's conditions.
APJII Promotes Infrastructure Sharing and Local Content
Syarif explained that Indonesia's underground infrastructure differs from that of some European countries, where utility tunnels can accommodate multiple types of infrastructure. In Indonesia, ducts are generally smaller and designed primarily for fiber-optic cables.
Clear rules governing access, installation, and maintenance are therefore necessary to ensure infrastructure sharing does not disrupt other operators' networks.
APJII also encourages more efficient connectivity through optimized interconnection and domestic content hosting. Locating servers closer to Indonesian users can reduce latency and potentially lower connectivity costs.
Another proposed measure is consolidating internet demand for public facilities, including schools and community health centers, through long-term planning and cooperation between government agencies and internet service providers.
Syarif stressed that infrastructure sharing should improve efficiency without restricting retail competition or encouraging price-fixing.
Clearer Internet Quality Standards Needed
APJII highlighted the need for clear performance indicators to measure Indonesia's target of achieving internet speeds of 100 Mbps by 2029.
According to Syarif, download speed alone cannot fully represent service quality. Other factors, including latency, connection stability, service types, and regional conditions, must also be considered.
For example, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet may offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps, but its performance can differ from fixed broadband and mobile networks, particularly in terms of latency.
APJII also called for clear measurement methods and consistent standards across urban and rural areas to ensure internet quality targets reflect actual user experiences.
Government Reviews Telecommunications Regulations
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is reviewing telecommunications regulations to reduce industry costs, encourage investment, and improve service affordability.
Deputy Minister Angga Raka Prabowo said regulatory costs account for approximately 13%–14% of telecommunications operators' revenue. The government aims to create a more efficient and competitive industry while protecting public interests.
The proposed reforms include shared use of towers and utility poles, integrated utility corridors, more affordable open access, and standardized regional levies. The government is also exploring partnership models in which public institutions, such as schools, community health centers, and village offices, could provide more predictable demand for internet services.
Indonesia Seeks Wider and More Affordable Internet Access
Data for 2026 indicates that approximately 81.7% of Indonesia's population, or 235 million people, are connected to the internet. However, around 2,000 villages and settlements remain without 4G coverage, while fixed broadband penetration stands at approximately 21% of households.
Fixed broadband costs account for 4.86% of gross national income per capita, above the affordability benchmark of 2%. Average internet speeds are approximately 51 Mbps for fixed broadband and 66 Mbps for mobile broadband.
These figures highlight the need to expand coverage while improving service quality and affordability.
APJII and the government are seeking to address these challenges through infrastructure sharing, regulatory reform, and clearer service standards. Greater cooperation between industry and government is expected to reduce structural costs, support investment, and make internet services more accessible across Indonesia.
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Conclusion
APJII is calling for infrastructure sharing, clearer regulations, and standardized internet quality to reduce costs and expand connectivity. These efforts are essential to making internet services more affordable and accessible across Indonesia.
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