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| West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan launches the free internet program for schools at SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak, Tuesday (Sept 23, 2025). |
The West Kalimantan Provincial Government officially launched a free internet program for schools on Tuesday (Sept 23, 2025). The initiative was inaugurated by West Kalimantan Governor Drs. H. Ria Norsan, M.M., M.H. at SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak. This program is a collaboration between the provincial government, PT Solusi Sinergi Digital, and PT Huawei Indonesia to support digital education and expand digital literacy in the region.
In the first phase, free internet has been installed in 9 schools: 4 in Pontianak, 4 in Mempawah, and 1 in Bengkayang. Alongside internet access, the program also introduces smartboards as interactive digital learning tools. The project will gradually expand to other schools and eventually provide affordable internet access for the wider community.
“Today we launched 9 schools with free internet. This fulfills my promise because I once said Insya Allah our schools would soon get free internet, and later households will also enjoy affordable internet. Alhamdulillah, today we have started with schools first, and homes will follow soon,” said Governor Norsan.
He emphasized that the program would not only cover schools in areas already connected but also target blank spot regions. “For areas that are blank spots, internet will also be installed. We’re starting with high schools in this first phase, and then others will follow,” he explained.
Norsan also called for strong support from city and regency governments across West Kalimantan to ensure the program runs optimally. He noted that cross-sector coordination, infrastructure readiness, and local supervision are all crucial. “I invite all stakeholders and the community to support this initiative for the advancement of our beloved West Kalimantan,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, PT Solusi Sinergi Digital Shareholder Prof. Dr. Ir. Fadel Muhammad stated that West Kalimantan is the first province in Indonesia to implement this kind of free school internet model supported by private investment. “This is the first model in Indonesia, and we chose West Kalimantan as the pilot project because of the governor’s vision and determination,” said Fadel.
He added that if the program succeeds, it will be expanded to other provinces nationwide. “The technology is ready. West Kalimantan already has fiber optic networks in place, so we only need to partner with local infrastructure providers. This program is not funded by the regional budget (APBD), but entirely by private investment. For schools, it’s free. For households, our target is to provide much cheaper internet than current providers,” Fadel explained.
The program aims to cover all 740 high schools in West Kalimantan. In the future, it will also expand to junior high schools and public facilities. At the same event, Governor Norsan also took time to observe the distribution of the Free Nutritious Meal Program at SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak.
With this initiative, students in West Kalimantan are expected to enjoy more equal access to digital education. Beyond education, the program is also projected to boost the region’s digital economy, particularly in areas that have long struggled with internet access.
