Indonesia Targets 100 Mbps Internet Within Two Years in Digital Infrastructure Push

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia is accelerating one of Southeast Asia's most ambitious digital infrastructure drives, targeting average nationwide internet speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) within the next two years as President Prabowo Subianto's administration seeks to strengthen the country's digital economy and narrow its connectivity gap.

The initiative will require significantly higher investment from telecommunications operators to expand fiber-optic networks, fixed broadband services, and satellite connectivity across the world's largest archipelago, where internet quality varies widely between urban centers and remote islands.

Indonesia is home to more than 280 million people but still lags many regional peers in broadband quality and penetration. Faster, more affordable internet is expected to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital payments, e-commerce, and remote education while improving the country's competitiveness as a destination for technology investment.

For telecom operators, the government's push could translate into higher capital expenditure and fresh opportunities in broadband infrastructure, although it also raises pressure to accelerate network expansion beyond major cities.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria said internet access has become an essential public utility rather than a luxury, making nationwide connectivity a strategic priority.

"We are committed to achieving average internet speeds of around 100 Mbps within the next two years, while ensuring access is affordable and available nationwide," Nezar said during a dialogue with officials from the ministry's Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Office in Medan on Saturday.

Narrowing the Gap

Indonesia continues to trail most of its regional peers and fellow G20 economies in internet performance despite recent improvements. According to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index in May, average mobile download speeds reached 62.5 Mbps, placing Indonesia 74th globally, well behind ASEAN leaders such as Brunei (254.2 Mbps), Singapore (183.4 Mbps), Malaysia (154.4 Mbps), Thailand (137.3 Mbps), and Vietnam (210.9 Mbps).

Among G20 members, Indonesia outperforms only Mexico (40.0 Mbps) in mobile internet speed while lagging economies including the United States (205.7 Mbps), China (170.8 Mbps), India (126.6 Mbps), Japan (69.2 Mbps), and South Korea (245.2 Mbps).

The gap is even wider for fixed broadband. Indonesia's average fixed internet speed stands at just 47.1 Mbps, ranking 117th globally. It is far behind ASEAN peers including Singapore (440.5 Mbps), Vietnam (291.8 Mbps), Thailand (286.1 Mbps), Malaysia (172.3 Mbps), and even the Philippines (112.8 Mbps).

Within the G20, Indonesia ranks near the bottom, ahead of only India (61.8 Mbps) and South Africa (49.7 Mbps), highlighting the substantial investment still required to meet the government's target of nationwide average speeds of 100 Mbps within two years.

Hybrid Network Strategy

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, known as Komdigi, has framed the initiative under its "Connected, Growing, and Protected" strategy, which positions digital infrastructure as the backbone of Indonesia's expanding digital economy.

The government is encouraging mobile network operators to increase capital spending to accelerate fiber deployment, expand fixed broadband coverage, and leverage satellite technology to connect remote communities that remain difficult to reach through terrestrial networks.

Officials acknowledge that eliminating connectivity gaps remains a major challenge. Despite years of infrastructure investment, internet "blank spots" persist across parts of the country, including some areas on Java, Indonesia's most populous island.

"We must close the remaining infrastructure and connectivity gap, including addressing areas that still lack reliable signal coverage," Nezar said.

The ministry is pursuing a hybrid network strategy that combines fiber-optic infrastructure, fixed broadband, and satellite services to deliver more resilient nationwide coverage, particularly in underserved regions.

Nezar also highlighted how telecommunications have become critical during emergencies, noting that restoring mobile and internet services is now among the first requests from affected communities following natural disasters, alongside food assistance.

The broadband expansion forms part of Indonesia's broader effort to accelerate digital transformation, improve productivity, and extend access to digital public services across the country. For investors, the initiative signals continued government support for long-term investment in telecommunications infrastructure, data centers, cloud services, and the broader digital ecosystem.