ATSI Asks Badung Regency Government to Stop Cutting BTS Towers

iwanrj.com – Jakarta – Telecommunications operators who are members of the Association of Indonesian Telecommunications Operators (ATSI) deeply regret the dismantling of telecommunication towers (BTS) by the Civil Service Police Unit of the Badung Regency Government which was carried out unilaterally.

Following the demolition action, the Badung Regency Satpol PP also turned off telecommunications equipment belonging to telecommunications operators such as Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XL Axiata and Smartfren which used infrastructure owned by members of the Telecommunications Tower Infrastructure Developers Association (ASPIMTEL).

The impact is that the strategic support for telecommunications services for the revival of the tourism sector in Bali is also at risk of being disrupted, especially in the Badung Regency area.

This forcibly dismantled telecommunications tower has an impact on potential disruption to the loss of telecommunications services (blank spot) in strategic areas in Badung Regency such as tourism areas, public service offices, community economic centers, office areas and MSMEs, educational facilities, to health service points.

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“ATSI, which oversees all telecommunication operators in Indonesia, deeply regrets that the demolition of telecommunication towers by the Badung Regency Government Satpol PP was carried out unilaterally,” said Marwan, Secretary General of ATSI.

According to Marwan, his party will continue to monitor the condition of telecommunication networks and services in the areas affected by the demolition to ensure that the interests of the community are not disturbed, especially domestic and foreign tourists who are the driving force of the economic lifeblood in the Badung Regency area.

“It is undeniable, telecommunication services are strategic support to ensure the continuity of tourism activities, public services, the community’s economy, offices and MSMEs, education to health, including in the Badung Regency area,” he explained.

Realizing the importance of this, continued Marwan, ATSI encourages all related parties to open up communication space so that the interests of the community are not further harmed.

He emphasized that the provision of strategic telecommunications services by telecommunications operators that are members of ATSI is in line with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, regarding Digital Transformation planning, including expanding access and improving digital infrastructure.

Then prepare a digital transformation roadmap in strategic sectors, whether in government, public services, social assistance, the education sector, the health sector, trade, the industrial sector, the broadcasting sector.

Then the third is accelerating the integration of the National Data Center, and then preparing for the need for digital talent human resources, and finally regulations related to digital transformation funding and financing schemes will be prepared as soon as possible.

Potential Blank Spot

The act of forcibly shutting down telecommunications equipment followed by the demolition of telecommunications towers has the potential to cause disruption to the loss of telecommunications services (blank spot) in strategic areas in Badung Regency.

In the end, the people of Badung Regency, including visiting domestic and foreign tourists, were the ones who suffered the most from this unilateral action.

This is of course very contrary to the goals and aspirations of the Government of Indonesia as directed by President Joko Widodo to focus on accelerating and expanding digitalization in various sectors.

The goal is to be able to produce multiplier-effect for economic growth, especially the digital economy, which is evenly distributed throughout the country, including in the Badung Regency area.

ATSI together with all telecommunications operators in Indonesia under its auspices are committed to continuing to provide the best experience in serving the digital needs of people throughout the country.

“We hope that the act of turning off telecommunications equipment and forcibly dismantling telecommunications towers in Badung Regency will stop immediately and find the best solution that prioritizes the interests of the community,” concluded Marwan. [HBS]