RRI.CO.ID, Tanjungpinang – Fishermen and coastal communities on the outer islands of the Riau Islands will no longer need to undertake long sea journeys to handle administrative matters or access administration services. The Riau Islands Provincial Administration and the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry are using satellite technology and the 700 MHz frequency to eliminate blankspots, equalizing digital access and enabling border residents to access public services online.

Director General of Postal and Informatics Resources and Devices at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, expressed the central government’s commitment to integrating advanced technology to promote balanced economic development and optimize public services across the archipelago. One concrete step is the construction of six Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in the Riau Islands.

“The BTS facilities will be built across Lingga, Natuna, and Karimun Regencies, with construction involving telecommunications operators that, as part of their strategy, will allocate the 700 MHz frequency,” said Wayan at the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry’s office in Jakarta, according to a statement received in Tanjungpinang on Friday, August 7, 2026.

He explained that the 700 MHz frequency would be used as a mobile broadband band to expand the reach of 4G/LTE and 5G internet services. Its primary purpose is to address blankspot areas, or locations not covered by telecommunications signals, while extending connectivity to remote rural areas.

According to Wayan, the 700 MHz frequency offers several advantages, including broad and strong signal coverage, as well as cost efficiency because network infrastructure can be built with fewer BTS facilities.

In addition to constructing BTS facilities, the Ministry is utilizing various supporting technologies to expand telecommunications coverage across the archipelago. These efforts include optimizing the Republic of Indonesia Satellite (SATRIA), strengthening the Palapa Ring network, and developing satellite technology for areas not yet reached by terrestrial networks.

“This effort is not merely about fulfilling infrastructure needs but also serves as a vital instrument for stimulating investment growth, which has remained stagnant. It is also intended to ensure that digital prosperity can be enjoyed by all segments of society, including those living on the outermost islands,” said Wayan, as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile, Riau Islands Deputy Governor, Nyanyang Haris Pratamura, stressed that equal access to telecommunications was an urgent need for local communities. He emphasized that this is particularly vital for residents living in border areas and on the outermost islands.

He said that 30 blankspot points and 177 locations with weak signal quality remained, affecting public services, education, healthcare, and economic activities.

These telecommunications limitations have also affected various sectors, including education development. For example, the construction of Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) and the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in several areas have encountered difficulties due in part to inadequate supporting infrastructure, including telecommunications networks.

For this reason, the Riau Islands deputy governor expressed hope that central government support would accelerate the development of digital infrastructure in border areas so that public services could operate more effectively.

“Adequate internet services will enable people, particularly coastal fishermen on the most remote islands, to avoid making exhausting physical journeys. They will simply be able to use digital access to reach various government services,” said Nyanyang. ***