Indonesia on Geopolitics of 5G Technology

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has yet to decide on 5G technology from which country it will adopt, as the Coordinating minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said this has become a global geopolitical issue. 

“This is why we have to be smart in choosing [which technology we adopt],” said Airlangga in an online event entitled ‘Katadata Indonesia Data and Economic Conference’ on March 23. 

As the largest digital market in ASEAN, said the minister, this situation has made Indonesia the center of the global attention.

During the event, he said the current 4G technology used in Indonesia was adopted from a certain country. However, he did not reveal the country and whether the 5G tech from this same country will be used in Indonesia. 

The plan of 5G adoption in Indonesia arose last year in 2020, which is planned to be executed this year. In December last year, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate said main tourism spots, industrial areas, and independent cities will be prioritized. 

The most notable geopolitical case in the international stage is the widely-reported feud between Chinese 5G tech firm Huawei and the United States government, where the former was banned from doing business with US firms. This was followed up by the European Union planning to ban Huawei’s 5G technology.

Read: 5G Technology Not Top Priority Yet in Indonesia

FAJAR PEBRIANTO