For years, residents of Lalomerui Village have lived with limited access to information. Located in Routa Sub-district, behind hills and forests and more than 300 kilometers from the administrative center of Konawe Regency, digital connectivity was once out of reach. That situation has now changed. Through its SCM Peduli program, PT Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral (SCM) has provided free village internet access to Lalomerui—situated at the northernmost edge of SCM’s mining area—serving the village office as well as local schools, including SMP Negeri 2 Routa and SD Negeri Lalomerui.
The availability of internet access in Lalomerui is the result of collaboration between SCM and PLN Icon Plus, Regional SBU Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia. Infrastructure development began in early January 2026, starting with the installation of fiber optic cables. PLN Icon Plus supplied poles and network infrastructure from the provincial road junction to Routa Sub-district, while SCM’s IT team ensured distribution reached key facilities throughout the village. With bandwidth capacity of up to 200 Mbps, the connection is designed to be stable and capable of supporting a wide range of activities, from video conferencing to access to government servers—services that were previously difficult to reach from the area.
The most immediate benefits have been felt in the education sector. Prior to the installation, teachers at SD Negeri Lalomerui and SMP Negeri 2 Routa had to travel for hours to the regency capital simply to submit administrative reports and update the national Education Data System (Dapodik) online.
The principal of SMP Negeri 2 Routa, Imran, described the internet access as a turning point for teaching and learning. “For the past several years, our digital learning materials were practically unusable because they required access to central servers. With free Wi-Fi now available, learning resources can be accessed easily,” he said. “We believe this will significantly boost students’ motivation to learn.”
Internet access has also improved efficiency in school operations. Previously, students of SMP Negeri 2 Routa had to travel to the regency capital to take national assessments. This year, the school is proud to be able to conduct the National Assessment independently on its own campus.
Village Head of Lalomerui, Taksir Unggahi, expressed hope that the facility would broaden local perspectives and open new economic opportunities. “We hope this internet access brings new knowledge to communities around the mining area, including ways to develop the village economy through digital platforms,” he said.
Despite the many benefits, SCM also emphasized the importance of responsible use of technology. During the official handover ceremony of the Village Internet Facility held at SCM’s Community Affairs Office in Lalomerui on 4 February 2026, SCM’s Head of Mine Technical , Didik Fotunadi, reminded the community that the internet has two sides. “Internet technology is like a double-edged sword. It shortens distances, but it also exposes users—especially children—to outside influences if not properly supervised,” he said. “We entrust this facility to be safeguarded and used positively, with guidance from teachers and parents.”
Following the signing of the handover documents, representatives of SCM management, together with its parent company PT Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk and the PLN Icon Plus team, visited beneficiary locations including the Lalomerui Village Office, SMP Negeri 2 Routa, and SD Negeri Lalomerui. Technical teams checked signal strength and ensured routers and cable installations met safety standards and were ready for sustainable operation. The visit was also attended by teachers from SD Negeri Lalomerui led by Ramlin, S.Pd., and local community leaders.
With the operation of this free internet service, Lalomerui Village has officially entered the digital era. The initiative demonstrates that geographical constraints are no longer a barrier to access to technology—and that collaborative efforts can bring meaningful change to classrooms hidden behind hills and forests in remote areas of Konawe.
Main photo: View of Lalomerui Village.
