Indonesia has inaugurated a new massive power-outage-proof transmitter tower to boost and expand cellphone network connectivity across Ubud, a region in the uplands of Bali.
The tower was strategically placed on top of the renowned Sacred Monkey Forest, ensuring no monkeys were affected by the presence of their new 180-foot-tall metallic neighbor.
From this vantage point, it will have a greater impact on the residential and business areas of Ubud, where hundreds of digital nomads have established their residences.
“Apart from connecting communities around the tower, it also seeks to improve service and network quality for foreign and domestic tourists who want to continue to be connected with their families from afar,” said Yose Navirianto, the Head of Technology for Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, the cellular operating company.
According to Yose, the tower will enhance the communication capabilities of over 3,000 users living in three villages within a 1.86-mile (3 km) radius.
One of its advanced features includes a cutting-edge generator that prevents service disruptions in case of a power outage.
In its commitment “to expand its reach and strengthen its network quality in remote rural areas across the country to support people’s digital activities,” Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, through Tri, has also built 1,275 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in Bali, reaching 422 sub-districts in the region.
A BTS is a technology that facilitates wireless communication between a network and mobile phone or similar devices, enabling connectivity and coverage in rural or remote areas where connectivity has traditionally been an issue.
As a result, Tri’s network now reaches 97% of the total population in Bali, including digital nomads and tourists, and 82% of the total population in Nusa Tenggara.
“With the high number of tourists arriving in Bali, Balinese people have the chance to develop businesses and make a potential source of livelihood out of tourism. Tri seeks to bring real opportunities for locals by introducing a new fast and efficient network capable of seamlessly connecting tourists and residents to the digital world,” said Julandi George Fransiskus, at the Tri Bali Exploration Media Update event on Friday.
Regarding internet connectivity, Bali boasts the largest coverage across Indonesia with 97% of its population having access to this service.
But while Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu enjoy high-speed internet, other areas such as Nusa Penida are still not suitable for digital nomads to establish their operations.
The Indonesian government has been strengthening partnerships with national and intentional tech companies to increase internet coverage and speed, especially in heavy-tourist areas.
Back in May, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and Elon Musk signed an agreement to provide satellite internet to rural villages through Starlink.
This move has solved connectivity issues of key infrastructure in remote areas.