ICT Development Strategy for Rural Areas in West Java

Information and communication technology (ICT) influences aspects of life, including its development in rural areas that have similar characteristics in the livelihood system of its inhabitants. ICT development for rural areas in West Java is carried out by identifying ICT needs for rural areas as the basis for further ICT development in West Java. This needs analysis can encourage the emergence of appropriate solutions for ICT development. Another step is to carry out ICT development by strengthening the development of ICTs that have been running regarding government and support from the community. In this paper, mapping of internal and external factors are done through strength-weakness-opportunity-threat (SWOT) analysis, then the ICT development strategy for rural areas is formulated as an action to strengthen ICT for rural areas in West Java. With information on ICT needs for rural areas and strategies to enhance the development of rural ICTs, activities are expected to be more targeted and appropriate to the needs of rural communities in West Java. Optimization of rural ICT development in West Java can be done by (1) accelerating infrastructure development by allocating budgets, and by collaborating with ICT providers; (2) strengthening the development of human resources, for village officials and for the community, (3) strengthening synergies and collaborations between agencies that have authority in the field of ICT and internal organizations.