ONI Country Profi le
311
among the freest in Southeast Asia,
5 full press freedom has been hindered by legal
and regulatory restrictions (many of which have only recently been enacted).
6
Self-censorship is commonplace, and those who speak out risk violent attacks and
intimidation.
7
The country is secular with an ethnically and religiously diverse population.
However, because of its predominantly Muslim population (as well as a conservative
Muslim majority within government) the state is sensitive about indecency and blasphemy. The government has also expressed concern about media and Internet content
that could spark social unrest. These concerns have had an adverse effect on full
freedom of expression in the country.
Internet in Indonesia
As of August 2010, Indonesia had over 200 Internet service providers (ISPs).
8 The
largest are Telkomsel and Indosat. Made up of roughly 17,000 islands, Indonesia does
not have a centralized Web infrastructure and has several links to overseas networks.
9
Indonet receives its upstream bandwidth from San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong
at a rate of 156 to 200 Mbps.
10 The country has two Internet exchange points (IXP),
the Biznet Internet Exchange (BIX) and the Indonesia Internet Exchange (IIX). The
IIX was the country ’ s fi rst IXP and is maintained by the Indonesian Internet Service
Providers Association (APJII).
Internet usage in 2009 was reported to be 20 million with an 8.7 percent penetration rate.
11 Fixed broadband subscription rate was low, at 0.74 percent.
12 Many people
access the Internet through mobile phones
13 or at privately owned Internet caf é s
(called warnets). Because broadband Internet is relatively expensive in Indonesia (USD
100 per month),
14 mobile plans and warnets are much more affordable alternatives.
Indonesian mobile broadband plans are among the cheapest in the world (USD 17 per
month).
15 As of September 2009, the mobile penetration rate of the country was 56.8
percent.
16 Warnets provide access to half of the country ’ s Internet users, including
those who are unable to afford individual access.
17 Warnets are obligated to record the
identity cards of all visitors and to report the data to the Indonesia Security Incident
Response team on Information Infrastructure.
18
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Wordpress are popular Web sites among Indonesian Internet users. As of April 2010, Indonesia had approximately 21 million Facebook
users, making Indonesia the country with the third-largest number of Facebook users
in the world.
19 As of the same month, Indonesia also had the largest number of Twitter
users in Asia.
20 Blogging is another popular activity.
The state generally holds a positive attitude toward the Internet and views information and communication technologies (ICTs) as important tools for economic
development. In 2001, the government announced its Five-Year Action Plan for the
Development and Implementation of ICTs.
21 The plan addressed priorities for
311
among the freest in Southeast Asia,
5 full press freedom has been hindered by legal
and regulatory restrictions (many of which have only recently been enacted).
6
Self-censorship is commonplace, and those who speak out risk violent attacks and
intimidation.
7
The country is secular with an ethnically and religiously diverse population.
However, because of its predominantly Muslim population (as well as a conservative
Muslim majority within government) the state is sensitive about indecency and blasphemy. The government has also expressed concern about media and Internet content
that could spark social unrest. These concerns have had an adverse effect on full
freedom of expression in the country.
Internet in Indonesia
As of August 2010, Indonesia had over 200 Internet service providers (ISPs).
8 The
largest are Telkomsel and Indosat. Made up of roughly 17,000 islands, Indonesia does
not have a centralized Web infrastructure and has several links to overseas networks.
9
Indonet receives its upstream bandwidth from San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong
at a rate of 156 to 200 Mbps.
10 The country has two Internet exchange points (IXP),
the Biznet Internet Exchange (BIX) and the Indonesia Internet Exchange (IIX). The
IIX was the country ’ s fi rst IXP and is maintained by the Indonesian Internet Service
Providers Association (APJII).
Internet usage in 2009 was reported to be 20 million with an 8.7 percent penetration rate.
11 Fixed broadband subscription rate was low, at 0.74 percent.
12 Many people
access the Internet through mobile phones
13 or at privately owned Internet caf é s
(called warnets). Because broadband Internet is relatively expensive in Indonesia (USD
100 per month),
14 mobile plans and warnets are much more affordable alternatives.
Indonesian mobile broadband plans are among the cheapest in the world (USD 17 per
month).
15 As of September 2009, the mobile penetration rate of the country was 56.8
percent.
16 Warnets provide access to half of the country ’ s Internet users, including
those who are unable to afford individual access.
17 Warnets are obligated to record the
identity cards of all visitors and to report the data to the Indonesia Security Incident
Response team on Information Infrastructure.
18
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Wordpress are popular Web sites among Indonesian Internet users. As of April 2010, Indonesia had approximately 21 million Facebook
users, making Indonesia the country with the third-largest number of Facebook users
in the world.
19 As of the same month, Indonesia also had the largest number of Twitter
users in Asia.
20 Blogging is another popular activity.
The state generally holds a positive attitude toward the Internet and views information and communication technologies (ICTs) as important tools for economic
development. In 2001, the government announced its Five-Year Action Plan for the
Development and Implementation of ICTs.
21 The plan addressed priorities for