Innovation at the Frontier

Information and communications technology has become increasingly more sophisticated, user-friendly and affordable.
Unfortunately, cheap alternatives to communication have been subjects of controversy over whether the use of these technologies is violating existing regulations. One of these is a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which allows users to communicate by telephone through the Internet.
Fortunately, several groups of information technology lovers have been at the forefront of efforts to make telecommunications infrastructure available legally.
Ten years ago, Onno W. Purbo, a former lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), pioneered the campaign by setting up “Freedom VoIP”. He used a protocol H.323-based VoIP technology developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In 2005, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Center Jakarta developed “VoIP Rakyat“ (People’s VoIP) and Anton Raharja was the architect of the project. The technology used was based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) developed by the International Engineering Task Force (IETF).
VoIP Rakyat has done better than VoIP Merdeka (Freedom VoIP). While VoIP Merdeka users could communicate free of charge only with other VoIP users, now VoIP Rakyat users can be contacted through Telkom or cellular operators with valid numbers from the United States or the United Kingdom. They can also call regular landline numbers at only 105 rupiah per minute.
VoIP Rakyat has also developed an instant messenger similar to Yahoo Messenger (YM), American Online (AOL) and Microsoft Network (MSN). Using an open jabber as a basis, ICT Center Jakarta, which serves as the host of this new IM, provides messaging service using a domestic server. Fast, bandwidth efficient and not a waste of foreign reserves.
Contrary to fears expressed by many quarters, the legal use of VoIP will benefit all. Both companies and customers will gain from cheaper ways to communicate. Telkom will increase revenue from local calls, subscription fees, rented lines and so on and the state will enjoy increased tax collections.

The innovation enables more people--including the business community--to communicate with their counterparts in different parts of the world at a much more affordable cost, eliminating a significant barrier to small and medium companies in Indonesia. It is also inline with the government’s initiative to improve people’s access to information and communication technology, in keeping with improved IT infrastructure in the country.
As of the end of 2006, VoIP Rakyat has handled 100,000 minutes of VoIP telephone connections with 15,000 registered users, 4,000 of whom are active users.