Providing Free Internet Access for Tourism Destination to Achieve Smart City Level
UNSYIAH (Universitas Syiah Kuala), under work unit of Office of International Affairs (OIA), in collaboration with Banda Aceh City Government, UNDP (United Nations Development Program), and Icon+, support Banda Aceh city by facilitating free internet access for societies, especially at one site of Banda Aceh tourism destination called PLTD Apung (Floating Electric Generator Ship). The site is one of the famous iconic tsunami sites of Banda Aceh city that is visited by many visitors, so by providing this internet facility, people around can access the internet freely and gain updated information especially about the tsunami disaster. The official ceremony was held on 21 December 2020, at PLTD Apung Banda Aceh.
Fadhil, S.Sos, MM, as the Head of Communication, Informatics, and Statistics Banda Aceh Department, expressed his appreciation toward the university, Icon+ agency, and other involved parties. He delivered by providing this open and free internet access, people can visit informative links or websites to get useful news or information, as well as use the internet wisely, and he also hoped that the internet provider can limit people to visit unwanted sites.
Meanwhile Dr. Muzailin Affan, as the Chairman of OIA UNSYIAH, said that this event is part of the Digital Inclusion in Banda Aceh as the Resilient City Initiative (RRU) project. The project supports the government to reach the level of Smart City, as we know that now the Banda Aceh city is recognized as one of the Smart City Pilots in Indonesia. Therefore, all involved parties and especially UNSYIAH give a great contribution toward societies especially for communities from the middle, low, and disability groups, so they all can take advantage of the existence of ICT and Smart City itself, as well as to develop the city of Banda Aceh.
The ceremony event was attended by delegations from DISKOMINFOTIK, Tourism Department of Banda Aceh city, BAPPEDA, BPPD, Aceh Tsunami Museum, Icon+, OIA UNSYIAH, Banda Aceh Sub-District Office, the Village Office of Gampong Pungee Blang Cut, and several community members involved.
