When visiting Indonesia’s major cities such as Jakarta from time to time, one can clearly sense rapid progress and transformation. One of the most noticeable improvements is the internet environment. Compared to just a few years ago, it is evident that the number of places offering stable internet access has significantly increased.

Introduction

Indonesia’s internet environment is certainly making progress. However, according to various surveys, it still lags behind neighboring countries. A 2023 survey ranked Indonesia among the bottom three in Southeast Asia in terms of internet speed. In addition, the country faces a serious problem of regional disparity in IT infrastructure.

This article presents data and visual materials based on the survey, providing an overview of Indonesia’s current internet environment.

Analyzing Indonesia’s Internet Speed and IT Infrastructure Through Data

Indonesia Ranks Among Southeast Asia’s Bottom Three in Internet Speed

Speedtest.net, a platform that allows users to test internet speed for free, published its “Median Country Speeds – December 2023” ranking. According to the report, Indonesia’s mobile network speed was 25.0 Mbps, ranking 97th out of 146 countries, while its fixed network speed was 27.9 Mbps, ranking 126th out of 178 countries.

In contrast, Japan ranked 55th for mobile networks with 47.3 Mbps and 16th for fixed networks with 188.3 Mbps. Among Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN members and Timor-Leste), Indonesia ranked 9th out of 11 for both mobile and fixed network speeds.

The December 2023 Speedtest rankings for 11 Southeast Asian countries are as follows:

Mobile Networks (Mbps):

• Singapore: 93.4
• Brunei: 91.9
• Malaysia: 69.9
• Vietnam: 49.1
• Thailand: 42.1
• Laos: 30.0
• Philippines: 28.1
• Cambodia: 26.6
• Indonesia: 25.0
• Myanmar: 21.3
• Timor-Leste: 4.2

Fixed Networks (Mbps):

• Singapore: 270.6
• Brunei: 221.3
• Malaysia: 111.7
• Vietnam: 107.4
• Thailand: 92.9
• Laos: 68.7
• Philippines: 37.0
• Cambodia: 32.6
• Indonesia: 27.9
• Myanmar: 19.7
• Timor-Leste: 7.2

Slow internet speeds cause significant inconvenience to users and disadvantages to the nation. Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Budi Arie Setiadi, emphasized the need to improve Indonesia’s internet speed by increasing investment in the telecommunications sector. According to the Minister, widespread adoption of 5G networks is particularly important, which will require substantial capital investment.

Sources:

• SPEEDTEST “Median Country Speeds – December 2023”
• Logo Bloomberg Technoz “Comparing Internet Speeds: Indonesia vs ASEAN Countries”

Regional Disparities in IT Infrastructure

Despite being ranked among Southeast Asia’s bottom three in terms of internet speed, Indonesia also faces substantial regional disparities in IT infrastructure deployment. Particularly alarming is the situation in Papua, which lies on the easternmost edge of the country, far from Java Island—the political and economic center that includes the capital city Jakarta.

According to the 2022 data released by Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik), 67.9% of the national population aged five and older own a mobile phone or smartphone. By province, Jakarta ranks among the highest with 82.3%, while Papua records the lowest at only 35.3%.

Similarly, in terms of “the percentage of the population aged five and older who have accessed the internet,” the national average stands at 66.5%. Jakarta again ranks high at 84.7%, whereas Papua lags far behind with just 26.3%.

Sources:

• Databoks “67% of Indonesians Owned Mobile Phones in 2022 – Regional Distribution”
• Databoks “Internet Penetration in Indonesia Remains Uneven as of 2022”

Visual Insights into Indonesia’s Internet Speed and IT Infrastructure

Painfully Slow Internet: A Day to Download a Single File

Watch the Video

This video captures the moment an office employee attempted to download a file on their computer.

Initially, the estimated time to download a 2.2 GB file displayed as “5 jam lagi” (5 more hours), but it gradually increased, eventually showing “1 hari lagi” (1 more day). The uploader commented, “I miss working from home—my home internet is way faster.”

In Indonesia, even in offices and cafes that offer free Wi-Fi, internet connections are not always reliable. Many people find this frustrating. Persistent issues caused by slow internet can negatively impact employee motivation.

Efforts to Improve IT Infrastructure in Rural Areas

Watch the Video

This video introduces Daboltin Elementary School located in the highlands of Papua Province, in the interior of New Guinea Island.

Through support from the Alirena Foundation, which provides educational aid in Papua, the school received 21 computers and established a computer lab. This has enabled children to learn various subjects more effectively and efficiently.

Receiving a modern and high-quality education is crucial not only for acquiring academic knowledge and literacy but also for developing digital skills that are essential in today’s society.

Implementing internet-based lessons in remote inland regions—where infrastructure is the most difficult to build and support is the hardest to deliver—is expected to help reduce digital disparities, as well as educational and economic inequalities between urban and rural areas.

The Impact of Slow Internet

Slow internet is no longer just an inconvenience—it poses real disadvantages to people’s lives. Individuals in unstable internet environments may suddenly lose connection during important web conferences. Paid webinars or online lessons may be interrupted unexpectedly.

When trying to book a taxi, even accessing a ride-hailing service may take considerable time. In some cases, online medical consultations may be inaccessible. Even in urban areas, where IT infrastructure has improved, many people still live under the constant stress of unreliable connectivity.

Given Indonesia’s vast geography, consisting of numerous islands, it is extremely challenging to develop a robust internet network as swiftly as in smaller nations. However, it is evident that this is one of the key infrastructure improvements the Indonesian government must prioritize urgently.