As chair of this year’s Group of 20, Indonesia is highlighting the potential of digital technologies for economic growth and social inclusion by making digital transformation one of its presidency’s three priorities. But the country itself is still grappling with the persistent issue of digital accessibility.

Without accessibility for all segments of society, digital transformation will only widen the digital divide that leaves the most vulnerable behind. Uneven internet access has been a fundamental challenge in Indonesia’s inclusive digital transformation, but digital accessibility goes beyond that, and access to services and markets is also required.

First and foremost, reliable and affordable internet access is the foundation of digital transformation. As of January 2022, about 73.7 million people in Indonesia, 26.3 percent of the total population, do not use the internet. More than 12,500 villages and 104,000 schools across Indonesia still have no internet access.

The internet penetration rate is also lower for women than men. Unequal internet access means those without the internet are excluded from the digital sphere and unable to tap into the social and economic opportunities it opens up.

For those with internet access, an overwhelming 95 percent use mobile data on their smartphones, an Indonesian Internet Providers Association (APJII) survey shows. The median mobile internet speed in Indonesia is 16.52 megabits per second (Mbps), slower than its neighbors, like the Philippines (19.26 Mbps), Malaysia (29.36 Mbps), Thailand (33.68 Mbps) and Singapore (64.01 Mbps). Indonesia sits 105^th out of 141 countries in the Speedtest Global Index ranking.

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The need to expand and improve internet access is well recognized by the Indonesian government, as shown by the Communications and Information Ministry’s plan to build more than 7,900 base transceiver stations by 2022.

Internet access is necessary but not sufficient. The more meaningful indicator to examine digital access is how well people use the internet and how safe they are when conducting digital activities.

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