Symbolic handover of Telkomsel sim card from the Director of ITS Student Affairs, Dr. Imam Abadi, S.T., M.T., (on the left) to the student recipient

ITS Campus, ITS News – The world pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused an increase in the need for internet data due to the implementation of Work From Home (WFH) and Study From Home. In response to that, the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) try to help meet these needs by distributing 4,000 internet data packages in order for employees or educational staff (Tendik) and students to remain productive at home.

This assistance is a collaboration between ITS, that is represented by the Directorate of Planning and Development (Ditrenbang), the Directorate of Technology and Information Systems Development (DPTSI), and the Directorate of Student Affairs (Ditmawa), together with PT Telkom Indonesia, that is in coordination with its subsidiary, PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel).

As a Commitment Making Officer (PPK), Director of ITS Research and Development, Dr. Ir. Suwadi, M.T., explained that this aid was a step to optimize bandwidth usage at ITS. Because during WFH, only around 60 percent of it is used. “Since the contract was completed, I took the initiative to ask for compensation by submitting an addendum to PT Telkom Indonesia through DPTSI,” said this Electrical Engineering lecturer.

In correspondence with Suwadi, Dr. Umi Laili Yuhana, S.Kom., M.Sc., as the Director of DPTSI ITS, explained that the initial process of this assistance was an idea from DPTSI who saw less than the maximum usage of ITS’ bandwidth. “So I approached Telkomsel with the help of Vice-Rector III and Mr. Suwadi to negotiate, and luckily it was successful,” she stated.

Online coordination of ITS representatives with providers Telkomsel and PT Telkom Indonesia

PT Telkom Indonesia finally agreed to a compensation of 30 percent through giving 4,000 internet data packages to Telkomsel for ITS students and educational staff. This is intended for a smooth online working and learning process during WFH and SFH.

Furthermore, the Director of ITS Student Affairs, Dr. Imam Abadi, S.T., M.T., revealed that to obtain these internet data packages, students must follow the mechanism implemented by Ditmawa. From filling out forms online to verifying data. “Because this assistance is only given to ITS students, it is necessary to verify the data,” he emphasized.

This Physics Engineering lecturer also elaborated that in the selection of recipients for this internet data package, it is only intended for students who have Telkomsel cards. So card users other than Telkomsel cannot get this assistance. “So basically, the internet data packages are not necessarily distributed to all students,” he said.

Imam further explained that these internet data packages were prioritized for students who are really affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The value of Tuition (UKT) is also used as verification material, which is carried out in stages. “Thankfully, this verification step for registrants can accommodate up to students who have a maximum UKT,” he said gratefully.

Handover of internet data assistance by representatives of PT Telkomsel that is received by Aris Purnomo Wijayanto (on the right), Head of ITS Student Affairs Service Ditmawa

According to Imam, the number of internet data package assistance for students that were successfully inserted by Telkomsel was 3,348 cellular telephone numbers. This total amount is the result of the accumulation of registrants from both phases. This assistance for active students is only for May. While the assistance offered in June and July is only intended for final year students and educational staff members.

As for educational staff, according to Suwadi, around 400 cellular phone numbers have been inserted. Educational staff member beneficiaries for these internet data packages are determined directly by the Ditrenbang.

For details of the internet data packages received by students and educational staff members, the Director of DPTSI revealed that the total data given was 11 GB (9 GB all networks + 2 GB cloudX). “If the recipient also activated the 30 GB ilmupedia package, then the total data that can be used is up to 41 GB,” he explained.

With the assistance of these 4,000 internet data packages, Suwadi hopes to make the learning process for students to run smoothly without problems, especially for underprivileged students. In addition, for the educational staff members, this assistance is expected to be a solution for the lack of facilities and infrastructure while working from home. “So that those who normally use the office internet network can now overcome this situation with the internet data package,” he concluded. (bob/ory/ITS Public Relations)