Linklist has shut down so this is an archived version of the site. Read more.

Baidu is a sponsor at Startup Asia Jakarta 2014. See our ethics statement for more information.

Indonesia has long been considered a mobile-first country, since users from its current generation onwards will get their first taste of the internet via their mobile devices. It is imperative for any company looking to break into Indonesia to understand these users better. If you’ve been wondering about the Indonesia market, you’d probably want to look at Baidu Indonesia’s report on the country’s mobile internet users, released at Startup Asia Jakarta 2014.

This report was created via an online survey which received 11,458 valid respondents. It also conducted phone and direct interview sessions with selected respondents. The results point out that Indonesia is indeed a mobile-first country, and that most of its current mobile internet users are predominantly male, with income below Rp 3 million (US$244).

Here are some more findings from the Baidu report:

• 74.7 percent mobile internet users in Indonesia are male
• 40.1 percent of all respondents are aged between 18 to 25 years old
• Samsung is the most popular smartphone with 49.7 percent ownership, followed by BlackBerry and local brand Smartfren Andromax with 16.2 percent and 14.4 percent respectively. 87.3 percent of respondents expect their next smartphone to be one with an Android OS.
• 80 percent of all current smartphone devices used by respondents are priced below Rp 3 million ($244). 45.6 percent respondents still have income below Rp 1.5 million ($122).
• Although 55.2 percent respondents first experienced the internet with a computer, smartphones are the most preferred device for accessing the internet.
• Indonesians who have made their first online connection in the past year are much more reliant on mobile devices than computers for internet connection.
• In fact, 40 percent respondents say they spend more than three hours every day surfing the web with smartphones.
• 95.2 percent of respondents usually go online from home, mostly for social networking and web search.

Indonesia still has so much room for growth in terms of mobile net users. Two telcos XL Axiata and Indosat have started the trial period for 4G LTE connections, with ICT minister Rudiantara assuring Indonesian citizens they can start using 4G LTE connections in 2015. The arrival of 4G LTE will definitely push more mobile internet usage in the country, complemented by the arrival of more affordable Android phones from vendors like Xiaomi and Himax. (XL Axiata Axis Capital Group Jakarta PT Telecom News Updates)