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New communications minister vows to finish BTS tower project amid graft case
Newly appointed communications and information minister Budi Arie Setiadi asserts that the construction of 4G base transceiver station (BTS) tower project will be completed this year despite recent delays.
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Base transceiver station (BTS) towers. (Indosat/File)
T
he construction of 4G base transceiver stations (BTS) will be completed this year, according to the newly appointed Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, as he affirmed the project would continue as planned despite the graft case implicating his predecessor.
According to the ministry’s five-year strategic plan document, 4G networks should have been available in more than 9,000 villages in frontier, outermost and disadvantaged (3T) areas by this year.
However, the realization of 4G development is still far from the target. The government aimed to build around 7,700 towers within two years by 2022, but as of the third quarter last year, only 2,406 towers had actually been erected with some not functioning properly.
“The BTS [project] must continue and must be finished. […] All business involving the BTS will be complete no later than this year,” said Budi on Thursday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Budi was inaugurated into his new position as communications and information minister on Monday. He replaced former minister Johnny G. Plate, who was removed from the Cabinet in May after he was named a graft suspect.
Previously Budi was a deputy minister for villages, disadvantaged regions and transmigration and is known as one of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s loyalists.
Along with Budi’s appointment as communications minister, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry staffer Nezar Patria was also appointed as deputy communications minister.
