Lubukbasung, (Antara Sumbar) - Communications and Informatics Office of Agam District, West Sumatra, note there are 39 out of 82 nagari (traditional villages) in that area which do not have a non-Global Internet Network for Mobile Communication (GSM) yet while they all must be connected in 2018.
"The 39 villages are scattered in 14 of 16 sub-districts of Agam," Fauzan Helmy Hutasuhut, head of Agam's Office of Communications and Informatics in Lubukbasung stated, on Wednesday (Oct 4).
This amount is based on data collected by Department of Communications and Informatics of Agam to 82 nagari in July 2017.
From the results of data collection, there are 39 of 82 nagari or 45 percent nagari do not have internet network.
All of these villages must be connected to internet network in 2018, because Agam Regency has implemented the Information System of Regional Development Planning (e-planning) in order to realize the smart district, he said.
"If there is no internet network, then nagari will find it difficult to find information about e-planning," he said.
In order to implement it, local government has facilitated nagari which do not have internet network to network provider.
Then the network provider offers nagari that do not have Telkom network with satellite system at a cost of Rp17.6 million for the initial installation and the cost of expenses for one year.
Furthermore, the nagari pays a burden of Rp12 million per year.
"With the satellite system, every nagari can access internet and live in implementing nagari," he said.
Member of Agam Parliament (DPRD), Helmo hoped all nagari install internet network in accessing information to improve its service.
"We strongly support the installation of internet network so there is no longer nagari that do not have internet access," he said.
If the nagari does not have a budget for network installation, he added, nagari can file a letter to DPRD and DPRD will call relevant agencies to discuss the network installation.
"We will discuss it with the relevant agencies in the procurement of network installation," he added. (cha)
Editor: Vicha Faradika