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Govt should use power of Internet to improve welfare: Opera executive
The government can improve the welfare of its people if it can harness the power of the Internet, an Opera Software executive said on Wednesday
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he government can improve the welfare of its people if it can harness the power of the Internet, an Opera Software executive said on Wednesday.
'That is our suggestion to the government on how to reach out to more people that are not connected to the Internet. It should provide a channel of information that will make a difference in their lives,' said Ivollex Hodiny, Opera Software growth director. 'If the information we provide is relevant and timely, then it will empower people to have a better life.'
'If farmers know the price of crops before going to the market, it will have an impact on their lives,' he told the audience listening to his lecture at the Digital Diplomacy Week at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta.
Data show that the number of Internet users in Indonesia reached 72.5 million this year, equal to some 29 percent of the population.
The government, Hodiny said, should play a role in bridging the information gap; it should help as many people as possible get connected to the Internet because knowledge improves lives.
'We are here now to explore opportunities that we can work on with the government in one form or another. At present, we have already done a lot of things independently.'
According to Hodiny, one of the main driving forces promoting greater Internet penetration in Indonesia, currently at 28 percent, had been the exponential growth in smartphone use, browsers that worked in all network conditions and affordable data plans.
Worldwide, Opera recorded 350 million users, 275 million of whom accessed the browser through a smartphone, 55 million through a personal computer and 20 million through their television set.
Indonesia, with 30 million Opera users, 'is a super important country for us. The country is the second largest market after India [with 50 million users]. So, we have put a lot of effort in our operations here, one of which is to reach out to the rural sector to create awareness of the Internet,' he added.
Some of the strategies included providing a fast and cheap Internet connection, making data free of charge and supporting initiatives to help people get connected.
'We will continue building strategic partnerships with operators. We are already working with Telkomsel, Indosat and others,' Hodiny said. (idk)(++++)
