Since the inception of our pilot project in Palembang, Indonesia, I have witnessed the power that opportunity can have in people’s lives, and more specifically, the influence of wireless connectivity. In May 2010, we completed a project with SRA International, Inc., that offered 1,000 prepaid tuition vouchers (all of which were redeemed) to economically disadvantaged students. The goal of the voucher program was to build awareness and interest in new wireless technology services within middle-mile communities – communities that connect a small town to a larger metropolitan area, where it then interconnects with major Internet carriers, providers and services.

As a milestone marking the success and growth of the Wireless Reach Application Laboratory (AppLab) project, Bakrie Telecom invited me to participate in the launch of a new mobile phone that has a unique application package called “Usahaku.”