Bandung Digital Valley is Officially Launched [+ Video]

On Monday December 20th 2011, Telkom Bandung Indonesia has officially launched Bandung Digital Valley (BDV) which is located in the R & D Centre of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) at Jl. Gegerkalong Hilir 47, Bandung 40152.

From the release that I've received the official explanation of the BDV concept is a bridge between the technopreneur or application developer with a market or industry which has a role as an absorber or a user application. BANDUNG VALLEY DIGITAL will position themselvesas a central resource (resource pool) for the open nodes or hubs which can be a part or get permissions to a variety of applications that are ready to be developed.

BDV physical form is an ​approximately 1200m2 area for the 100 developers or technopreneur, private, companies or institutions that wish to utilize various free facilities. Users should do the registration process as well as giving proposals that later on would be selected . As per information from Telkom, they has provided IDR 50 billion fund as initial funding for the next three years in addition to the existing facilities in order to support the BDV.

Some existing facilities are including:

• Demo room/Gadget room: a room to show off application that is ready to be commercialized.
• Creative corner: working room (application development)
• Meeting room: room for meeting and discussion
• Cafe corner: room to relax and work
• Lounge: discussion room and transaction room

Since it's free surely there are limitations of the usage; so that for those who is interested could take turns to use a variety of existing facilities available, especially for working desk. After talking with Mr John P. Adi (Manager of Industrial Partnership PT Telkom) who invited me to the event, a time period of 'booking' is two days and if user still needs it after two days, re-registration is mandatory.

A part of the working desk there are also various other facilities, such as cafe (serving drinks and foods) thus if the place is full, user can also use table in the cafe. You can directly come to the location to register, and later on registration or bookings should be made ​via website Bandungdigitalvalley.com (the site is live and according to the plan will be officially released early next year).

The selection mechanism as well as other requirements such as work progress and time required for working on projects using BDV facility will be recorded and monitored on the web.

At the launched event speech and presentation yesterday, Mr Rinaldi firmansyah - Managing Director of Telkom said that the development of BDV has actually been long enough. Telkom has acquired Bali Camp, but with many considerations, finally Telkom developed the digital valley in Bandung. Several considerations are the various factors supporting the creation of good ICT ecosystem in Bandung, for example: universities, developers (human resources), and various other elements including Telkom's head office in Bandung. The ecosystem of ICT field developers located in Bandung is running as well.

Ecosystem turns into an outline that should be underlined on the launch of BDV, but the "content" issue is also important. If we see from Telkom side surely the content would be having a major role in the strategy and company direction. At least Telkom has a variety of products such as Speedy, Grovia, Mojopia - Plasa, MelOns, etc.. These kinds of products would need content to grow. Not to mention the true broadband target of Telkom would be meaningless without the intake of the content.

I see this BDV as an opportunity or channel although I'm still sceptical. However this existing facilities hopefully can assist to create the ecosystem. Surely it's for long-term development and the most important thing is BDV shouldn't be only available for short term period. This area might be also becoming the creative space that align with startup culture and dynamic technopreneur (read: not rigid). In his speech, Rinaldi Firmansyah also said that the non formal atmosphere is created at BDV. The same location as the Telkom R & D Centre could also be an another advantage.

A part of that BDV will also cooperate with technology providers relating to the systems availability such as Microsoft, CISCO, IBM, SAP and has established cooperation with Indigo Venture, MIKTI (Creative Information Society Indonesia), various Universities, IAE (Association Electrical Alumni) ITB, and some of the developer communities. Surely BDV also opens the cooperation with venture capital.

The process of working together with the developers will be applied both ways. Telkom could find developers who can develop products/services or vice versa, developers can submit proposalsproducts to be collaborated with Telkom. This advantage is also one of the opportunities that could be utilized. At least the existing ecosystems around Telkom can be processed to be an opportunity for developers who are in the same direction.

The location problem seems still exists, the access to the location (BDV building) is far enough away from the main gate, especially for pedestrians (R & D complex building is located at the end Telkom area). The traffic conditions to the Gegerkalong Hilir area is also one of the worst; Jalan Setiabudi or Jalan Surya Sumantri is often suffered with traffic.

I think why not build it in the area of ​Jl.Supratman Bandung instead? (Telkom also had an office in that area). It’s closer to Gasibu or urban area and easy access to the downtown area. Perhaps the proximity to ​Telkom R & D is considered to be a factor for choosing BDV area.

However, BDV could be one option for developers working place - creative workers. A location that is away from the crowds, valley area and the spacious and comfortable room can help to focus, and of course the ecosystem opportunity that build in there could be another advantages. It's like meditation in the valley of Bandung. :)