In the early, exciting days of digital economy development, every year counts!
Here’s a review of the news that made a splash in Indonesia’s tech sector in the time it took the world to make its way around the sun once.
Netflix enters Indonesia, gets everything wrong
The US on-demand video platform Netflix chose the wee days of 2016 to conquer the world. It made its service available in 130 new countries all at once.
In Indonesia, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. The country’s largest internet provider, state-owned telco Telkom, decided to block the service. It had its own plans in the on-demand video realm.
An unapologetic CEO Reed Hastings on stage at a conference in Bali further soured the relationship with Indonesia’s largest telco.
CEO Reed Hastings onstage at CES 2016. Photo credit: Netflix.
The incident serves as a reminder: international tech giants – especially those who deliver large quantities of data across local networks – must play nice with the telcos.
Fintech association forms, ushering in a new era
Plans for the formation of an Indonesian fintech association already began to coalesce last year, but it became official early this year. The inauguration of an industry association doesn’t exactly make for hot news. But in this case, it ushered in a new era.
Regulators, banks, and fintech startups are working together more closely. A big fintech festival took place a few months later. If the past belonged to ecommerce, the coming years will likely see big developments in Indonesia’s fintech sector.
Ride-hailing vs. taxi industry: the battle is decided
It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, the dispute between the taxi industry and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Grab was at its tumultuous peak.
In March, street protests in Jakarta turned violent. Screenshot via @arieparikesit.
In March, taxi drivers flooded the streets protesting the new tech firms who were disrupting the transportation business.
All eyes on Lazada Indonesia after Alibaba deal
Indonesian media firm takes over BlackBerry Messenger development
Government throws its weight behind 1,000 Startups
Go-Jek’s blockbuster funding round makes it Indonesia’s first official unicorn
YesBoss resurrects, charges ahead with natural language processing for Indonesian
Google’s on-again, off-again tax deal
Apple gets approval to sell iPhone 7
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
