iMULAI - The Future of Warnet
I am sitting at my LAB (a small warnet before) and thinking about iMULAI. Do you know how many Warnet (Internet Cafe) we have in Indonesia? I don't think anybody know the exact number, but some people tried to predicting it. They said, it is around 5000 - 6000 from NAD to Papua. AWARI claimed 7602 in Feb 12, 2007. Other people believe more than AWARI (Indonesia Internet KIOSK Association) number.
For me, I just want to say, 5000 at minimum with 10 PCs in average. Let assume it is 50,000 PCs connected to internet from many places in Indonesia. Huge, unique and phenomenal right? Let me share with you the business problem of a Warnet from Depok perspective.
Monthly Operation Cost (8 Million IDR)
- Internet Connection : 3,4 Juta (average for more than 10 PCs)
- Electricity + Phone : 1,2 Juta (average 10 PCs)
- Building Infrastructure Rent : 2,0 Juta (depend on location)
- Human Resources : 0,5 Juta (1 person)
- Other (printer, CD/DVD, Logistics) : 1,0 Juta
Monthly Income (Min 5 - Max 14 Million IDR)
- From Internet Rent : 2-7 Jt (10 PCs, average utilization)
- Online Games : 2-7 Jt (10 PCs, average utilization)
- Printing and CD Burning : 0,5 Jt
- Logistics (Snack, Cigarettes, Drinks) : 0,5 Jt
Warnet as a business has a potential to gain 6 Million IDR per month or lose 3 Million IDR. It depends to locations, number of loyal customers, and of course, PC quality (Windows or Linux, Pentium 3 or 4, RAM etc). Who care about them? AWARI, Government and Microsoft Warnet LeGOS. I truly respect with AWARI mission, Government supports and Microsoft's initiative for software legalization. But we need to have different perceptions and thoughts to bring it forward, otherwise, it will suffer. I am thinking a model and framework to help Warnet business and please help me to extend the following thoughts for iMULAI.
Try to think Warnet as points of education, office facilities for SMEs, IT stores (PC equipment, etc), Kids play ground, online transactions KIOSK like ATM, and other crazy ideas to bring more added values for Warnet as business entity. Lets imagine each Warnet as a place for kids to get their first experience on emails, live messenger, live space, and other online features from Windows Live for example. Instead of bringing our kids to Shopping Mall every weekend, why we don't bring them to Warnet? Think Warnet as a national asset that can bring competitiveness values for the country instead of problem.
I do believe that developers and ISVs in Indonesia have bigger ideas than me. I am just acting as idea initiator, but the rest of the work to make it happen is still there. Despite all of our difficulties in our country, we always learn something and with iMULAI lets prove that we as the youth of Indonesia can change that!.
Thx - RAM