State Budget Supports Equitable Internet Network: Sri Mulyani
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12 March 2021 17:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said the state budget (APBN) had greatly sided with the penetration of Internet connection and digital connectivity.
According to Sri, the government was aware that infrastructure development was not only about road and bridge connectivity, but also communication network.
“Internet mobile speed and fixed internet connection [of Indonesia] rose by 24.8 percent and 16 percent [respectively] because of the robust support of the APBN,” Sri said during the Sfafiec Inauguration Ceremony and the Syariah Finance National Forum virtual event on Friday, March 12, 2021.
Sri said the development of network infrastructure would significantly open up work fields and opportunities for digital finance inclusion, what with Indonesia’s potential to leverage the digital finance sector given its giant market.
Based on the latest reports of We Are Social, the country’s internet users in January 2021 reached 202 million, up by 15.5 percent from the previous period. The reports also revealed Indonesia’s active social media users hit 170 million, rising by 6.3 percent from the previous year.
Sri Mulyani said the growth must be coupled with infrastructure development from the government. In 2021, the government earmarks infrastructure funds worth Rp414 trillion in the state budget, leaping from 2020’s Rp281 trillion.
Read: Sri Mulyani Teams Up with BPKP to Monitor Use of State Funds
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA