INDONESIA ON SHORTWAVE:

Then and Now - Part 1

This is an edited version of an extended article that first appeared in my World of Shortwave Listening column in the August 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com

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Only a few decades ago, Indonesia was an intriguing destination for shortwave listening, posing a challenge for DX enthusiasts. Besides the national broadcaster and its various regional outlets, many local government low-powered stations occupied the tropical bands between 2 and 5 MHz. Indeed, the country has a long and rich history of using shortwave radio for both domestic and international broadcasts. With a vast archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, shortwave radio has played a vital role in connecting remote areas of Indonesia and reaching global audiences.

A Land of Many Contrasts

Located directly north of Australia, Indonesia covers 1.91 million square kilometres (about 737,594 square miles) across Southeast Asia and into Western Oceania, making it the largest archipelagic country in the world. In fact, Indonesia spans three time zones (UTC+7, +8, and +9). The five main islands are Sumatra, Java, Borneo (also known as Kalimantan, shared with Brunei and Malaysia), Sulawesi, and the western half of Papua. Sitting across equatorial and tropical latitudes, the climate is hot and humid all year round.

With an estimated population of 278 million in 2024, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country, after India, China, and the United States. Though it accounts for only 7% of the total land area, the island of Java is home to nearly 60% of the nation’s population. Jakarta, the capital, ranks among the most densely populated cities in the world. However, other regions, particularly the eastern provinces, are sparsely populated due to their rugged mountainous terrain and infrastructure challenges. By any standard, Indonesia can be regarded as a young country, with a median age of around 30 years and nearly 30% of the population under the age of 15.

Additionally, it is one of the most ethnically diverse countries, home to over 1,300 different ethnic groups. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia (also known simply as Indonesian), and more than 700 regional languages are spoken across the archipelago. Unsurprisingly, multilingualism is common in many parts of the country. Interestingly, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world at 87%. Other religions include Christianity at around 10% and Hinduism at 1.7% (primarily in Bali).

Indonesian wood carving.

Early Broadcasting History

Although the first radio broadcasts in Indonesia, then known as the Dutch East Indies, began in the 1920s, it wasn’t until 1928 that the Nederlandsch-Indische Radio Omroep Maatschappij (NIROM) started operations to serve Dutch settlers, later expanding to include broadcasts in various Indonesian languages. Shortwave transmissions began in the 1930s to reach more remote parts of the country.

During World War II, Japanese forces expanded their reach into Southeast Asia, capturing the Indonesian capital on March 8, 1942. Immediately, the invading forces took control of all radio stations. Shortwave radio proved especially useful for propaganda, broadcasting pro-Japanese messages to local audiences and across Southeast Asia.

At the end of the war, on September 11, 1945, just weeks after Indonesia declared independence, Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) was established, quickly taking over existing radio facilities. Shortwave became a crucial medium for broadcasting independence messages both within the country and abroad. By the 1960s, Indonesia had improved its broadcasting capabilities, using shortwave to reach its many remote islands where AM signals were weak.

One of my early verification letters from the Radio Republik Indonesia station in Manado, North Sulawesi Province. The friendly letter in English confirms the report, thanks me for the souvenir postcard I sent, and mentions that they were using a 10 kW Gates transmitter.

Politics and Shortwave

Between the 1960s and 1980s, the country experienced significant political and social upheaval, culminating in the overthrow of President Sukarno and the formation of the New Order under President Suharto. The 1990s, despite ongoing economic growth, also faced the devastating effects of the Asian financial crisis, which ultimately resulted in the fall of Suharto's regime. 

Indonesia’s shortwave broadcasting mirrored the country’s evolving political scene. During Sukarno’s dictatorship (1945-1967), radio was utilized for anti-Western propaganda and to promote the non-aligned movement. Suharto’s New Order (1967-1998) maintained strict control over the media, including shortwave radio, using it for state propaganda and fostering national unity. 

Later, RRI’s broadcasts were used to counter foreign stations like Voice of America, BBC, and Radio Australia that criticized Indonesia's human rights and media restrictions. Indonesian authorities attempted to jam some of these foreign broadcasts, but these efforts were mostly unsuccessful.

When regional conflicts emerged, such as the tensions in East Timor (occupied by Indonesian forces from 1975 to 1999), shortwave radio was employed for military communications, propaganda, intelligence gathering, and national security purposes.

A 1973 QSL card for a Voice of Indonesia international service broadcast. I am unsure why the signer has referred to the station as “Voice of Jakarta”.

Radio Republik Indonesia’s Regional Outlets

In the 70s and 80s, DXers showed great interest in the Indonesian broadcasting scene. Most enthusiasts regard this period as the golden age of Indonesian shortwave broadcasting. RRI launched an expansion program to establish regional stations across the archipelago. Many of these regional stations operated on shortwave, providing news, entertainment, and educational programmes. Provincial RRI stations managed their own shortwave frequencies to serve rural listeners. RRI Jakarta, Medan, Bandung, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang (Makassar), Jayapura, and others each had multiple shortwave outlets.

I researched back issues of old 1980s DX club newsletters, such as the Australian DX News. Here’s a partial list of some RRI regional stations and their shortwave frequencies.

2306.8 RRI Jakarta (+ 3275, 4775, 7175, 7270, 9525, 9680, 11760)

2350   RRI Yogjakarta (+ 5046, 7098)

2360   RRI Padang 

2376.8 RRI Surabaya (+ 3976)

2390   RRI Cirebon

2419   RRI Palangkaraya (+3325, 3905)

2420   RRI Bandung (+ 3204)

2430   RRI Banjarmasin (+ 3249.8)

2430   RRI Malang (+ 2450, 3381, 3836)

2432.5 RRI Banda Aceh (+3904, 4904.7, 4954.7)

2432.8 RRI Palembang

2439   RRI Surakarta (+ 4900, 4931.6)

2455   RRI Dili (+ 3084, 3120, 3306)

2473   RRI Purwokerto

2490   RRI Semarang (+ 3935)

2545   RRI TanjungKarang (+ 3395)

3215   RRI Manado

3223   RRI Mataram

3225   RRI Tanjung Pinang

3231.8 RRI Bukittinggi (+ 4432, 4910.7)

3241.4 RRI Ambon (+ 4845v)

3249.8 RRI Banjarmasin (+ 5970)

3259.7 RRI Kupang (+ 3385)

3265   RRI Gorontalo (+ 3780v, 4903)

3265   RRI Bengkulu

3345   RRI Ternate

3353   RRI Sumenep

3355   RRI Jambi (+ 4927)

3374.4 RRI Medan (+ 4764)

3447   RRI Pontinanak (+3995)

3904.8 RRI Merauke

3945   RRI Denpasar

4000.2 RRI Kendari

4790   RRI Fak Fak (+7230)

4866v  RRI Wamena

4875v  RRI Sorong (+9743)

5044v  RRI Jayapura (+ 6070)

9551v  RRI Ujung Pandang

9611.7 RRI Jayapura

As mentioned earlier, this isn't an exhaustive list. There were times when stations appeared on various other frequencies as well. Moreover, the poorly maintained transmitters of some stations emitted spurious signals on different frequencies! While many of these stations were spotted in North America, the bands here in Australia were filled with these low-powered signals. For an Indonesian listener, the bands must have been incredibly crowded!

The back of a colourful 1981 QSL from the RRI studio in Palembang on the island of Sumatra.

Long-time DXers will remember the lovely “Song of the Coconut Islands.” Its Indonesian title is “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa,” which more precisely translates to “Solace of the Coconut Islands” or “Serenade of the Coconut Islands.” Composed by Ismail Marzuki, one of Indonesia’s national composers, the tune was written in the late 1940s, shortly after independence. This song was widely used by RRI, especially as a sign-on or sign-off tune for national and regional broadcasts. It evokes a deep sense of pride, nostalgia, and love for the Indonesian archipelago. Relive the memory with the help of YouTube (of course!) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DIEY6GlyFg

Indonesia’s Voice to the World

At the end of World War II, a service called the Voice of Free Indonesia was established to give the country a global radio presence. In 1950, with the launch of its international service, the name changed to the Voice of Indonesia (Suara Indonesia), aiming to reach audiences worldwide in multiple languages. Over time, the broadcaster expanded its programming to include more languages, such as English, Arabic, Chinese, and German. By the time VOI’s international broadcasts reached their peak, nine languages were broadcast. The station strengthened its international reach, transmitting to Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. During those days, three well-known VOI frequencies included 9525, 11785, and 15150 kHz.

Rise of the Small Regional Stations

During the 70s and 80s, the Indonesian government established numerous shortwave stations operated by regional and local governments. These smaller stations functioned either alongside the national broadcaster (RRI) or independently, depending on regional and national broadcasting policies. Known as RPDK stations, they played a specialized and vital role that complemented the broader functions of RRI and VOI (Voice of Indonesia). RPDK stood for Radio Pemerintah Daerah Khusus — translated as Special Regional Government Radio.

The first of these stations started in the late 1960s. By 1970, the Indonesian government encouraged the proliferation of regional radio stations to support development and national integration. By the mid-1970s, numerous RPDK stations were operating across various provinces, acting as vital communication tools in areas with limited access to national broadcasts. By the 80s, RPDK stations had reached their peak in both number and influence. 

These were low-powered broadcasters, mainly between 300 watts and 3 kW, serving as official communication channels for provincial or regency governments. Most RPDK stations operated within 3 to 6 MHz, reaching far into the outer islands where AM coverage was unreliable. 

Back in those days, shortwave technology proved invaluable for navigating the mountainous regions, jungles, and seas of this vast archipelago. It also delivered emergency communications during floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, issuing warnings, coordinating relief efforts, and broadcasting evacuation plans. 

Their local programs included news, support for rural development projects, health campaigns, agricultural information, and educational initiatives. Although managed regionally, RPDK stations played a role in strengthening national unity by reflecting key themes and national policies from the central government. They regularly transmitted RRI content, especially news, but with local inserts or commentary.

A card from Radio Khusus Informasi Pertanian (RKIP) in Surabaya for 4698 kHz. This came with a long personal letter and program schedule.

There was a series of stations featuring variations on Bahasa Indonesia acronyms, a sample of which includes:

RKPDT - Special Government Regional Radio

RKPDK - Special Regional Radio for the City

RSPDKDT - Local Government Broadcast Radio for Disadvantaged (or Underdeveloped) Regions

RKPKMDT - Special District/Municipal Government Radio for Communities in Disadvantaged Regions

At the end of each acronym was the name of the region or city from which the broadcast originated.

Attention From the Global DXing Community

During the 70s and 80s, DXers monitored over 150 of these tiny, low-powered regional and local community-focused stations in and around the tropical bands, along with a growing number found in the mediumwave band. Although there are too many to list here, a sample of regular operators includes:

2645  RPDT2 Ponorogo

2853  RKPDT2 Lombok Timor

2963  RPDT2 Manggarai, Flores Island

3000  RKPDT2 Jawa Timor, Surabaya

3375  RKPDK Sumbawa

3488  RPDT2 Tapanuli Selatan

3893  RKPDK Sidcarjo

3909  RPDK Tasikmalaya

3985  RPDT2 Labuhan Batu

4700  RKIP Surabaya

Even for experienced DXers, these stations were challenging to identify and difficult to verify. The broadcasters showed little interest in listeners beyond their 200 km signal radius, let alone someone in a distant country. Any QSLs sent usually came from staff during their own time or as a personal courtesy. Reports had to be written in Bahasa Indonesian, and including mint Indonesian stamps to cover the return postage increased the chances of getting a reply.

Interestingly, all Indonesian shortwave broadcasters, regardless of location, status, or function, were legally required to relay the news from Program Nasional in Jakarta at 2300, 0000, 0500, 0600, 0700, 1200, 1300, and 1500 UTC.

And so we come to the end of Part 1 of Indonesia on Shortwave.

👉👉  CLICK HERE FOR PART 2  👈👈

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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