Editing Communications in Indonesia

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{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

'''Communications in Indonesia''' has a complex history due to the need to reach an extended archipelago of over 17,500 islands. The once important non-electronic communication methods of the past have given way to a considerable telecommunications infrastructure in contemporary Indonesia.

== History ==
In the sixteenth century the [[Dutch Empire]] colonised Indonesia, constructing an elaborate communication system, both within Indonesia and to other countries. The first connection to Australia was an undersea [[telegraph]] cable that was completed on 18 November 1871, connecting [[Java]] to [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], and eventually to the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]] across Australia.

After independence, Indonesia started to develop its own communication systems, generally following the rest of the world. The construction of communication towers and launch of the Palapa series of communication satellites was done during the [[New Order (Indonesia)|New Order]] period.

== Infrastructure ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
A number of lines connect Indonesia to international communication routes. For example, the [[SEA-ME-WE 3 (cable system)|SEA-ME-WE 3]] [[optical fiber|optical]] [[submarine telecommunications cable]] lands at both [[Medan]] and Jakarta connecting Europe with South eastern Asia (several countries up to Japan) and Australia (Perth).

==Media==

=== Print ===
{{see also|List of newspapers in Indonesia|List of magazines published in Indonesia}}

Indonesia has a long list of print media, in the form of [[newspapers]] and [[magazines]]. Some, such as [[Kompas]], [[Media Indonesia]], [[Koran Sindo]] and [[Koran Tempo]] are circulated daily and are relatively simple to obtain. Others are island- or city-specific, and are usually not distributed to other regions.

=== Telephone ===
[[File:Switchboard operators, Wanita di Indonesia p98 (Ministry of Information).jpg|thumb|300px|Switchboard operators in Indonesia, c. 1953]]
{{see also|Telephone numbers in Indonesia}}
* [[Telephone]]s – main lines in use: 9.99 million (2004)
* Telephones – mobile cellular: At the end of 2010, the mobile cellular penetration rate was 67 percent (22 percent at end of 2006).<ref>[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/16/indonesia-mobile-market.html "Analysis: Indonesia: Mobile market"], Josh Franken, ''Jakarta Post'', 16 May 2011</ref> [[CDMA]] use is declining in favour of [[GSM]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/01/bleak-future-ahead-cdma-cell-phone-operators.html |title=Bleak Future Ahead for CDMA Cell Phone Operators |author=Mariel Grazella |work=The Jakarta Post |date=1 July 2013}}</ref>
* Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service good
**domestic: interisland [[microwave]] system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system
**international: satellite earth stations – 2 [[Intelsat]] (1 [[Indian Ocean]] and 1 [[Pacific Ocean]])

=== Radio ===
[[File:Jakarta youths on radio, Wanita di Indonesia p70 (Ministry of Information).jpg|thumb|Jakartan youths being interviewed for radio, 1953]]
{{see also|List of radio stations in Indonesia}}
* [[Radio]] broadcast stations: AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)
* Radios: 31.5 million (1997)

=== Television ===
{{main|Television in Indonesia}}
{{see also|List of television stations in Indonesia}}
* Television broadcast stations: 11 national TV, 60 local TV (From AC Nielsen Report – first Semester 2005):
* Televisions: 13.75 million (1997)

=== Internet ===
{{main|Internet in Indonesia}}
* [[Internet Service Provider]]s (ISPs): 24 (1999)
* [[Country codes|Country code]] (Top-level domain): [[.id]]

By June 2011, all sub-districts in Indonesia will be connected to the Internet.<ref>[http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/71751/internet-service-to-reach-all-sub-districts-in-june "Internet service to reach all sub-districts in June"], Antara News, 22 May 2011</ref>

==Regulatory environment in Indonesia==

The media in Indonesia is regulated by the Ministry of Communications and Informatics.

[[LIRNEasia]]'s Telecommunications Regulatory Environment (TRE) index, which summarises stakeholders' perception on certain TRE dimensions, provides insight into how conducive the environment is for further development and progress. The most recent survey was conducted in July 2008 in eight Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines. The tool measured seven dimensions: i) market entry; ii) access to scarce resources; iii) interconnection; iv) tariff regulation; v) anti-competitive practices; and vi) universal services; vii) quality of service, for the fixed, mobile and broadband sectors.

Below-average scores received in all sectors and across dimensions reflect general dissatisfaction of the TRE in Indonesia. However, this does not mean that respondents have ignored recent developments. The relatively healthy growth in mobile sector is reflected in the higher TRE scores received by the sector for most dimensions, when compared to the fixed sector. On average, the mobile sector scores best, with fixed and broadband following.<ref name="lirneasia_tre">{{cite web|url=http://lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/TRE_Indonesia_2009Mar18.pdf|title=Telecom Regulatory and Policy Environment in Indonesia: Results and Analysis of the 2008 TRE Survey |date=18 March 2008|publisher=[[LIRNEasia]]|author=Chanuka Wattegama, Juni Soehardjo and Nilusha Kapugama}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Indonesia}}
* [[National Press Monument]]
* [[Tower Bersama Infrastructure]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Indonesia mobile phone companies}}
{{Indonesia topics}}
{{Asia topic|Communications in}}
{{Oceania in topic|Communications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}

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[[Category:Communications in Indonesia| ]]
[[Category:Mass media in Indonesia]]