TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Secretary-General of Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kominfo) Rosarita Niken Widiastuti says that the country’s digital economy is predicted to thrive from US$27 billion to US$40 billion in 2019.

“By the end of 2019, it (digital economy) is expected to garner US$40 billion or equal to Rp566 trillion,” said Niken in an event entitled 'Connect' in Jakarta today, October 30.

The main reason behind it, said Niken, is the ever-improving infrastructure of the “digital archipelago” that is in its prime with internet users and infrastructures set by the communication ministry through the Palapa Ring.

The Palapa Ring is said to be serving more than 60 percent of Indonesians or 171 million internet users.

“This definitely houses a great potential, especially the digital economy,” said Rosarita Niken Widiastuti.

Meanwhile, Randy Jusuf, Google Indonesia Managing Director predicts that this year’s realization can potentially grow to US$40 billion. He further explained that the vastness of Indonesia’s region and the massive population has turned into a unique potential that other countries can find hard to achieve.

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO