Padang (ANTARA) - The Communication and Informatics Agency of Padang City initiated a digital house of worship program, with installed free internet access that can be used by local residents to support online activities and learning.
"The government of Padang city is initiating a free internet program for residents during the pandemic entitled Digital Houses of Worship," said Head of the Padang Communication and Informatics Agency, Rudy Rinaldy in Padang, Tuesday.
According to him, this program answers the complaints of residents who are hard in getting internet access.
“Digital house of worship is installation of free wifi in each house of worship starting from mosques, prayer rooms, churches, monasteries, and others, installing. So that later the house of worship will not only be used as a place of worship, but also as a center for online learning for students, as well as activities, "he explained.
In the first stage, one selected mosque in each sub-district in Padang will install free internet so that there are a total of 11 sub-districts.
For budget, The Communication and Informatics Agency of Padang invited businessman, donors and people who have more money to help the procurement of internet networks in mosques.
“Surely, we start from the government of Padang City first to install the free wifi in mosques,” he said.
Rudy said, the total internet networks that provided by the government of Padang City until now has reached of 125 points.
It is targeted that all urban villages will have free internet access for use by the community, he said.
Especially in Sungai Pisang Village, Bungus Teluk Kabung, free internet was also installed in two schools, namely Elementary School 13 and Junior High School 37 which can be used by local students to support the learning process.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused almost all activities were switched virtually. As a result, users and internet access increased than usual.
It also caused complaints from people who are hard to access the internet.
One of the residents of Kuranji Padang, Tince admitted that his expenses for buying internet data packages have increased because his children have to learn online.
He hopes that the government can help to provide free internet access so that his children's online learning will run smoother.
Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani
Padang initiated digital house of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic to answer residents' complaints about internet access
Head of Communication and Informatics Agency of Padang, Rudy Rinaldy. (Antara / Ikhwan Wahyudi)
