Since When Have Indonesians Enjoyed the Internet?

JAKARTA, NETRALNEWS.COM - Information technology is developing so rapidly. The world seems to be getting smaller, as everything happening anywhere in the world can be monitored thanks to the sophistication of information technology.

Indonesia is one of those countries that cannot be separated from the advancement of information technology, particularly the internet. So, when did Indonesians begin to enjoy internet services that introduced them to the virtual world?

The history of the Indonesian internet began in the early 1990s. At that time, the internet network in Indonesia was better known as a community network, where the spirit of cooperation, kinship, and mutual assistance was very warm and felt among its participants.

This differs somewhat from the Indonesian internet's later development, which felt more commercial and individual in some activities, particularly those involving internet commerce. Since 1988, early internet users in Indonesia have used CIX (UK) and Compuserve (US) to access the internet.

Awal Internet Indonesia

Based on ARIN and APNIC whois records, the first Internet protocol (IP) from Indonesia, UI-NETLAB (192.41.206/24) was registered by the University of Indonesia on June 24, 1988. RMS Ibrahim, Suryono Adisoemarta, Muhammad Ihsan, Robby Soebiakto, Putu, Firman Siregar, Adi Indrayanto, and Onno W. Purbo are some of the legendary names in the early development of the Indonesian Internet in 1992 to 1994.

Each individual has contributed their expertise and dedication in building snippets of the history of computer networks in Indonesia. Writings about the existence of Internet networks in Indonesia can be seen in several articles in print media such as Kompas entitled "Low-cost computer networks using radio" in November 1990. Also several short articles in the Elektron Magazine of the ITB Electrical Engineering Student Association in 1989.

Internet Service Provider Indonesia

IndoNet, led by Sanjaya, began operations around 1994. IndoNet was Indonesia's first commercial ISP. At the time, Post and Telecommunications were unaware of the potential for internet business opportunities, and there were still very few internet users in Indonesia.

IndoNet's initial internet connection was made using dial-up, a somewhat reckless move. IndoNet was located in the Rawamangun area, in the UI lecturer complex; Sanjaya's father happened to be a UI lecturer.

Initial access to IndoNet initially used text mode with a shell account, the Lynx browser, and the Pine email client, as well as chat with a conference on an AIX server. In 1995, the Indonesian government, through the Department of Post and Telecommunications, issued an ISP permit to IndoNet, led by Sanjaya and Radnet, led by BRM Roy Rahajasa Yamin.

Starting in 1995, several Indonesian BBSs, such as Clarissa, provided Telnet access to foreign countries. Using the Lynx remote browser in the US, Indonesian internet users could access the internet (HTTP).

The latest development that needs to be taken into account is the trend towards e-commerce and internet cafes, which support each other, resulting in a more solid Indonesian society in the world of information. E-commerce colleagues are building their communities on several main mailing lists such as warta-e-commerce@egroups.com, mastel-e-commerce@egroups.com, e-commerce@itb.ac.id & i2bc@egroups.com.

Early Internet Adopters Through CIX and Compuserve

Since 1988, CIX (UK) has offered email and newsgroup services. Later, it offered HTTP and FTP access. Some Internet users used 1200 bps modems and very expensive international telephone lines to access the Internet. Since 1989, Compuserve (USA) has also offered email and later newsgroup services, as well as HTTP/FTP. Some Compuserve users used modems connected to Gateway Infonet located in Jakarta. Compuserve's access fees were still expensive, but much cheaper than CIX's.

Current Indonesian Internet Users

The number of internet users in Indonesia in 2016 was 132.7 million, or approximately 51.5% of the total population of 256.2 million. This number is considered high in Asia. The largest number of internet users is on the island of Java, with a total of 86,339,350 users, or approximately 65% of the total. Compared to Indonesia's 88.1 million internet users in 2014, this represents an increase of 44.6 million users in just two years (2014–2016). This number is expected to continue to grow as infrastructure and technology advance.

Editor : Marcel Rombe Baan
Source: Netralnews
Gambar: Katadata