An Experience In Empowering A Bottom-Up InterNet Infrastructure in Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Beginning in 1986-1987, a few Indonesian amateur radio buffs communicated  on a slow 1200bps TCP/IP radio network (similar to the  technology currently being implemented in rural schools). Similar technology is being used in 1992-1993, to build Indonesian early Internet led by the University of Indonesia & Ministry of Technology. In 1994, IndoNet was the first commercial ISP established. Currently, 160+ ISP licenses have been granted with about 60+ ISP operational. In reality, 60-70% Indonesian Internet users are served by various form of Internet cafes (known as warnet), but none of these activities has been driven by the Indonesian government; they are mostly private & community driven. Thus, Internet is actually accessible to a much wider range of people than simply those who can afford a personal computer. It costs US$0.5/hour in most warnets. Warnet technology at schools reduces the cost to US$0.5/month/student. Having 25.000 high schools with 2-3 million students, it would a strategic move increase the Internet penetration by Interneting schools (currently only 1200+ schools & 200+ universities are on the Internet). The use of Linux Terminal Server Program (LTSP) enables us to use old 486 machines as high speed Internet terminals. The warnets are virtually organized at asosiasi-warnet@yahoogroups.com. Instead of Telco, wireless infrastructure at 2.4GHz (soon on 5 & 5.8GHz) is used by the good Internet Cafés. 

Bottom up processes enable through technical literature publications in various printed media and books, as well as many Internet mailing lists, mostly, hosted at yahoogroups.com. In the end, the whole infrastructure a self-finance & driven by the people with no World Bank, ADB, IMF specially not the government.

Dr Onno W. Purbo: is a well-known media columnist and author of more than 20 books on Internet technology. He is active in over 70 Indonesian Internet mailing lists. One of Indonesia's leading experts on Internet technologies and education, he has taught at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and  now dedicates his life to educating the Indonesian community on the Internet and Computer technologies, spending many hours in giving talks & workshops in public, schools & universities. His goal is to open the  Indonesian mind and to double the number of Indonesian Internet users every year.  In this way, he hopes to see an Indonesian knowledge-based society established .