Image source: phintraco.com


Nowadays, the internet is inseparable from our daily activities. Communicating through the internet has become a natural and normal thing to do. Online interaction that is facilitated by this digital connection forms a condition where one does not have to be in the same dimension of space, but can still have actual social relations with their partner. Moreover, business activities, promotions, education, literacy and even transportation and many other activities are now carried out with the help of the internet. The easy role of the internet in this digital era has pushed various countries in the world to compete to provide an internet network that is easily accessed by their citizens.

Along with the growth of the internet in recent decades, the availability of wireless internet access or what we call Wi-Fi is also increasing. It's already familiar to meet Wi-Fi in various public spaces. Cafes, restaurants, hotels are competing to add free Wi-Fi to the list of facilities that they offer to potential customers. Various minimarkets offer Free Wi-Fi after customers shop a certain amount of money and completed the facility with tables and chairs so customers feel comfortable to stay in front of their stores.

Image source: time.com

The government does not want to left behind to support the ease of internet access in public spaces. The availability of free Wi-Fi in the town square complete with a convenient internet location gave birth to the Wi-Fi corner which is much loved not only by young people but also for those who want to just relax while enjoying their leisure time with family. Educational institutions, mainly universities, pamper students with Free Wi-Fi facilities using only student identification number and password to log in. The facility is also equipped with Wi-Fi corners in various places inside the university. This certainly facilitates the completion of college assignments, provides a comfortable discussion room, or is simply used to access entertainment such as games, drama, movies, video tutorials and so on.

The importance of the internet in various aspects of life encourages continuous improvement of the quality of the internet network, not least for the internet in public spaces. It is undeniable that the government and all stakeholders in this matter continue to improve themselves. I will share a little of my experience enjoying the internet in public spaces. First, at Jember City Square, I was quite impressed and was surprised to find out that in my small town was already installed Free Wi-Fi with a comfortable and stylish Wi-Fi corner to complete it. The network speed also cannot be underestimated because in just 5 minutes I was able to download movies with an approximate size of 500 Mb. How to connect? Just click connect and wait for about 10 seconds, it's easy. Internet networks in cafes or restaurants, in my opinion, have the same quality as those in the town square. Second, the better quality of Wi-Fi is the one in universities. I only have to wait 3 minutes to download an analysis program that is larger than 1 GB. So it is not surprising if students currently feel comfortable working on assignments on campus because of the availability of internet network that is smooth and easy to access. Third, the experience of staying in hostels, homestays, and hotels in big cities like Jakarta, Malang, and Surabaya made me in awe. Not only because of the neat interior arrangement, but also the fast Wi-Fi network provided.

The quality of the internet network in public spaces continues to get improved. Free Wi-Fi can be assumed as a commodity that is not difficult to find. Everyone, even those who might not have the resources to access the internet at home, can benefit from a free connection and use it to access public services, find work, or for personal entertainment only with gadgets or other devices that can connect to Wi-Fi. Cities with a Free Wi-Fi network will benefit both tourists, who will enjoy an internet connection without roaming fees and for the local economy which will largely benefit from the increase in tourism. This because tourists are more encouraged to travel to locations if they can use the internet for free. Generally when traveling everyone wants to stay in touch with their family and friends, share vacation photos on social media and check travel information or travel destinations.

Hopefully the quality of the internet network in Indonesian public spaces can continue to develop in a better direction!

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