BAKTI KOMINFO’s main mandate is to accelerate digital transformation for inclusive development in Indonesia. Having progressed well in providing and strengthening the telecommunication infrastructure in Indonesia, BAKTI recognizes that the huge gap between availability of infrastructure and impact to human development particularly in 3T regions. The presence of telecommunication infrastructure would not be able to bring positive impact for the communities should it not be utilized optimally.The essence of BAKTI’s digital ecosystem program is the utilization of ICT infrastructure that serve and address the communities’ needs in remote and underdeveloped regions in Indonesia. However, Indonesia’s vast and diverse cultural, economic, and social structures pose a huge challenge since there is no one-size-fits-all solution. As such, BAKTI KOMINFO plays an important role as the ecosystem enabler, catalysator and accelerator that accumulates experiences and lessons learned in developing the most suitable digital ecosystem initiatives for communities in remote and underdeveloped regions. Adopting strategic approach of localized digital ecosystem initiatives based on strategic partnership, BAKTI had implemented 44 digital ecosystem initiatives in 4 priority sectors during 2019-2021 that are aligned with the national strategic plan of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Indonesia.

https://www.baktikominfo.id/

• Indonesia

• Youth
• Women
• The poor
• Remote and rural communities
• estimated to 14.2 million people

BAKTI’s digital ecosystem serves as a benchmark in the culmination of a network that can support the consistent impact of the government to bridge inequalities and meaningfully provide change to society. This effort in merging technology and infrastructure serves as the cornerstone in the development of a digital ecosystem through the principles of innovation and transparency by facilitating a strategic alliance between a variety of stakeholders ranging from the public, private and social sectors.
As an example, looking at BAKTI’s digital ecosystem in education. Initially BAKTI targeted teachers in two underdeveloped regencies and recognized the challenge of introducing technology into the learning process. BAKTI identified and collaborated with national startup (Ruangguru) that shares similar goal in delivering education services for disadvantaged areas in Indonesia. Ruangguru brought to the table the experiences of delivering distance learning via their online platform and how to engage with teachers whereas BAKTI offered insights and lessons learned on developing digital ecosystem strategy in remote areas. Hence, in the second year, BAKTI also included students as beneficiaries of the program BAKTI’s strategy is to empower potential teachers to serve as the local champion that continues to be active in developing the education by connecting them to the local education service. As a result, at least 20% of the total teacher beneficiaries of the program are currently active as local champions who continue to participate in the national education ministry’s program and disseminate their knowledge to other teachers in their region. BAKTI’s function as a knowledge manager which can bridge information, programs, and innovation between stakeholders enable the digital ecosystem initiatives to have a deeper reach towards varying interests and performance indicators through comprehensive program design.

BAKTI’s mission and mandate in providing ICT infrastructure particularly for the remote and underdeveloped regions in Indonesia is an important building block for sustainable development in this era of information society. By applying two approaches, top-down and bottom-up approach, BAKTI lay the foundation for sustainability as it does not only stop at providing infrastructure, but it also strives to develop the suitable digital ecosystem initiatives that deliver real impact to the communities in the remote and underdeveloped regions. Due to its focus and mission to serve the underserved communities, BAKTI collect and manage the knowledge gained from its experiences of implementing various digital ecosystem initiatives.
The accumulated knowledge is also transferred to different stakeholders since BAKTI KOMINFO leverages partnership and collaboration with multi-stakeholders in building the digital ecosystems. BAKTI always ensure that the digital ecosystem initiative is aligned with the national priority and policies, coordinate with the relevant mandated government agencies to ensure that the success of the initiative would be taken up and scaled up by the relevant agencies. Partners from private, civil society and local youth are also empowered to continue developing the seeds of digital ecosystem that BAKTI has orchestrated. The core of digital ecosystem is based on a shared goal with their complementing capabilities to learn, adapt and innovate together hence, enabling them to address the wicked social and economic problems faced by the communities in remote and underdeveloped areas.
Furthermore, BAKTI’s mission to build a thriving and inclusive digital ecosystem for rural communities across Indonesia has been formalized as part of the vision of “Indonesia Digital Nation” digital transformation roadmap outlined in Ministry of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 2/2021.

As a General Service Agency under the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, BAKTI KOMINFO has an important role in providing infrastructure and ecosystem for ICT for the people by utilizing the contribution funds from Universal Service Obligation (USO). BAKTI aims to bridge the digital gap, particularly in rural, remote, and underdeveloped areas for a better information society in Indonesia in the future. BAKTI applies two approaches, top-down and bottom-up approach in achieving this goal. The top-down approach serves to provide digital infrastructure development such as through multi-function satellite and Palapa Ring (fiber optic cable network project). This approach is complemented with the bottom-up approach, where BAKTI develops the suitable digital ecosystem to promote the utilization of ICT infrastructure for the benefit of communities in remote and underdeveloped regions. In achieving the equitable development goal, BAKTI KOMINFO works in partnership with other stakeholders, starting from other ministries, local governments, national parliament, civil societies, development partners and private sectors as encouraged by SDG Goal 17. To date, BAKTI has collaborated with approximately 350 different entities in spreading the seeds of digital ecosystem strategy in remote and underdeveloped areas in Indonesia. Aligned with WSIS value that in building a people-centered information society where no one is left behind, BAKTI believes that only a joint effort through cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders that the sustainable and inclusive development goals could be achieved. At the core of its mission in supporting Indonesia to embrace the Information Society era, BAKTI KOMINFO pledges to ensure that communities in remote and underdeveloped areas in Indonesia could equally enjoy the benefit and potentials offered by ICT.