COMMUNITY TELECENTERS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN INDONESIA

COMMUNITY TELECENTERS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN

INDONESIABy:

F.B. Moerwanto<[email protected]>

Naswil Idris<[email protected]>

Idris Sulaiman<[email protected]>

Video Conference, Jakarta - Washington DC:Improving ICT Access, Sustainability and

Security - the World Bank OfficeAugust 27, 2003

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INTRODUCTION

The Maitland Commission’s (1984) recommendation: “The telephone should be within easy reach to all” triggered conceptualization of Telecenters by many countries and the ITU

Various models to satisfy groups or communities such as SME, rural communities, university, schools, health center, etc.

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What is Telecenters or BIMin Indonesia?

Balai Informasi Masyarakat (BIM) is a (rural) public venue, where information and telecommunications services are provided to the public in its vicinity.

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The services rendered are the conventional telephone and faxes (facsimile), but also enhanced services for information handling as deemed necessary such as electronic mail, certain applications of data communication, even multimedia systems to support tele-education, tele-conferencing, tele-medicine and others.


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The function of a BIM is also to empower the local community to participate as "generator and provider of information", among others for marketing purposes, sale of produce and so forth.


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In order to render information and telecommunications services, the Balai is also furnished with space and staff for the purpose of consultations and training, on subjects relevant to the community needs.


Source: MASTEL <www.mastel.or.id>

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Indonesian Facts 1:Monetary crisis since 1997 still not well recovered

Indonesia has 86 000 villages, some 43 000 villages (50%) have no telephones (ICT), and 220 million people

No or low competence in ICT manufacture 1996 plans for Electronic Super Highway, but

not materialized Current penetration: telephones (fixed) 4 %,

cellular 4 %, internet user 2%

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Indonesian Facts 2: 90% House hold have no fixed line (let alone PC). More than 60% Internet Café (Warnet) are in very

small islands of Java and Bali. 40% are at 17,406 islands

Around 300,000 Wartel (Telephone Café)/Telephone Kiosk - Cyber Window

Around 2,000 Warnet (Internet Café)/Internet Kiosk <www.natnit.net/warnet>

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ICT POTENTIAL To transfer a bulk of information, instantly,

with worldwide coverage, Provide interconnectivity /

interconnectedness among all. Infocom is:

– Empowering / educating – enhances knowledge and skills

– Civilizing - through social contacts develop social cohesion and intelligence

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LEARNING FROM OTHERS Introduction of Telecenters shall be well planned

– Organization – involving local communities– Select services according to community

needs– Technical plan – interconnectivity, power

source– Technical support for sustainability– Supervision ( for efficient use of facilities)– Prepare for future growth– Financial

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BACKGROUND

Asymmetric access to infocom results in the digital divide (within and among nations)

Universal access to ICT to be promoted

Through social contacts, the concepts of cooperation and collaboration are developed,

Enabling distributed but coordinated activities

Notes:

Avoid misunderstandings and conflicts

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The digital divide The digital divide within and among

nations recognized by the Tokyo Declaration (2003) has been observed by economists / advocates since the late 1960s,

e.g. by Gunnar Myrdal in : Asian Drama (1968), Against the stream (1973), Rich and poor nations (Indonesian translation by Paul Sitohang) (1976)and many other publications

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TREND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIVIDE

Asymmetric access to information (which is empowering / enabling tool)

Disparity in (individual and communities’) capacities and competencies

Disparity in (sector) growth Disparity in growth disturbs resources

allocations, but favoring the high growth Results in enforcing the divide within and

among nations

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Equitable access to alleviate the divide attempted:

To education by compulsory education creating competencies (among advanced countries since more than 100 years)

No attempts have made to make free access to technologies, specifically ICTs

Free trade is disadvantageous to developing countries

Technological dominance spread to economic dominance even to political dominance

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Polarization and Stratification of the Community

With the divide, the community becomes polarized and stratified into two poles of the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, government and private, elite and commons….

Alienation by the higher strata in stratified communities results in the enforcement of the divide, leaving no way to catch up

Universal access to ICTs is not only social or political strategy, but also a moral obligation

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Imperatives Universal access to information, including

education Easier access to technologies and research

findings in all sectors (see Maitland Commission’s recommendation in the Missing Link (1984)

Telecenters is one example to reach all people

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Problems: Organizational inability Initial operation of Telecenters might not be

(commercially) profitable Lack of skilled support staff ICT equipments are costly (imported) Lack of awareness of ICT potentialities

(cultural lag) by rural communities Lack of credits to SMEs

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INDONESIA EXPERIENCE:1. Initial concepts by various government

departments – various models – but NOT lasting or in sound operational condition

2. The (commercial) service - telephony – Internet - by the private are successful, but NOT really penetrating the rural/isolated area and islands

3. Government has planned Universal Service Obligation (USO), but remains to be implemented

4. Lack of investment capability

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Case study: 1. Flower BusinessIn Bandung West Java <www.bimcihideung.cjb.net>

Locality within flower gardens (SMEs), telephones available

Services rendered are Internet e-mail, web browsing, web posting, etc

Facilities have attracted teachers and schools in the area

Attracted other government agencies (tourism) For commercial as well as individual uses

Conducted by MASTEL (Indonesia ICT Association) <www.mastel.or.id>

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Case study: 2. In Small and Medium Business Sector

Under PEG & USAID sponsor <www.pegasus.or.id> there are several Telecenters for SMEs exporters operated in Indonesia.

Under Asia Foundation Indonesia & Castle Asia sponsor <www.castleasia.com> there are Telecenters in the area of SMEs & E-Commerce operated in Indonesia.

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Case study: 3. In Educational Sector Rural Satellite Project in Eastern Island Under USAID & Telecom Company

created 12 Telecenters at universities in eastern island from 1982-1992 Indonesian Open Learning University <www.ka.ut.ac.id> used temporary

Post Offices in Bandung, Purwekerto and Padang as Telecenters Pilot Project for Distance Learning (also the nearest Warnet as Telecenters).

Indonesian Private University (UPDMB) is using the nearest Warnet as Telecenters (see next pictures)

Sekolah 2000 <www.sekolah2000.or.id> using certain schools as Telecenters.

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Case study: 3. In Educational Sector

Professor can encourage students to take advantage of Warnet as compliment to the library (library online) and class room interaction by using mailing list. Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo Beragama (UPDMB)

The nearest Warnet/Cyber Window from universities can be considered as Telecenters.

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Case study: 4. In Science & Technology Sector

Warung Informasi & Teknologi (Warintek) <www.inn.bppt.go.id> Telecenters in Science & Technology. In 2002 there were 2.358 units & 4 mobile Warintek

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Case study: 5. In Government Sector

National Information Agency <www.lin.ri.go.id> created Telecenters at JIEMI (Jaringan Informasi Elektronik Masyarakat Indonesia) - Electronic Information Networking for Indonesian Society at 2 Warnet “Planex” in Bogor <www.planex.com> University of Agriculture (IPB) in rural area & Banda Aceh as a pilot project (Distributing/Absorbing Government Information for rural people through Warnet).

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Case study: 6. In Tourism Sector

Bali Online <www.indo.com> created several Telecenters in the area of tourism (Hotels, Handicraft and so on).

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Future plans: USO (Universal Service Obligation)

implementation (government) Government Policy on USO still pending Private participation in ICT provision, along

with districts higher autonomy Encourage Telecenters upgrading including

for tele-learning, tele-health, on-line shopping and other applications through the Internet

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Thank Youfor your attention

F.B. Moerwanto<[email protected]>

Naswil Idris<[email protected]>

Idris Sulaiman<[email protected]>

Documents

COMMUNITY TELECENTERS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN INDONESIA