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Telkomsel provides students with 30GB of free internet for distance learning
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Telkomsel is providing students with 30 GB of free internet.
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C
ellular operator Telkomsel, a subsidiary of state-owned communications company PT Telkom Indonesia, is providing Indonesian students with 30 gigabytes of free internet to support the government's physical distancing instruction.
The free internet quota gives students access to online learning sites from home.
"This is part of our initiative to actively support and collaborate with the government in curbing the spread of COVID-19," Telkomsel external corporate communications general manager Aldin Hasyim told The Jakarta Post via text message.
The 30 GB of free internet is divided into two internet packages, "Ruangguru free access", which gives students access to online tutoring platform Ruangguru.com, and "Ilmupedia free access", which enables them to utilize several online learning apps and websites such as Web Quipper, Zenius, Cakap, Bahaso, sekolah.mu and various university e-learning tools.
According to Aldin, the free internet quota will be available for 30 days after registration. "It will be accessible to a total of 130 state and private universities across the country," he added.
Read also: Studying from home: Seven online learning platforms for students
Among the students eligible for the free internet – which reportedly does not include Google, YouTube or Facebook – are those who study at the University of Indonesia, Trisakti University and Binus University.
Aldin said the operator had been experiencing an upturn of internet traffic during the distance learning period thanks to the increased usage of e-learning apps, online conference meeting apps and COVID-19 information platforms.
"We've seen a 13 percent increase in broadband consumption compared to the same period last year due to social distancing calls," he said.
As of Friday, Indonesia had recorded a total of 1,155 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 102 deaths. The COVID-19 emergency status in Indonesia, declared by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), was recently extended to the end of May, compelling people to remain at home in the weeks ahead. (trn/kes)
