TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics’ telecommunication and information accessibility agency (BAKTI) announced that the construction of national broadband East Palapa Ring is scheduled to complete mid-2019 despite hampered by several issues in Papua.

“The last position was still at 95 percent,” said BAKTI President Director Anang Latif following the trial session of the 700Mhz frequency in Pangandaran, West Java.

Anang further explained that the recent shootings in the Nduga District in Papua caused a temporary halt for the project’s construction over security concerns.

The East Palapa Ring construction was also curbed by the flash floods that devastated the area of Sentani no too long ago. Anang revealed that several important materials needed for the construction were washed away by the flood.

Overall, the Palapa Ring package is expected to be completed by June with the West Palapa Ring completed in early 2018, while the Central Palapa Ring was completed by the end of last year.

ANTARA