PLN To Conduct Specialized Network Maintenance For Upcoming National Exam

SURABAYA, East Java, March 15 (Antara) - The East Java branch of State Power Company (PLN) is conducting specialized network maintenance work to anticipate issues due to rains and strong winds when the state will hold a national computer-based exam this year. "East Java is currently experiencing rough weather. Hence, starting March, we will conduct network maintenance to ensure greater reliability and no power outages," PLN Manager for East Java Dwi Kusnanto stated after attending a meeting in Surabaya on Tuesday. He noted that the power supply is already being managed in terms of the transmission, sub-stations, and 20-kilovolt distribution network until the point where the network reaches the consumers. "Please pray for us, as uninterrupted power supply must also be supported by good weather conditions, so that the exam could be held flawlessly," he emphasized. At the same place, Executive Vice President for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Suparwiyatno remarked that State Communication Company Telkom had already put in place some measures to prevent power outages that could hinder the computer-based exam. The first priority is decentralization for the processes of uploading and downloading, so they will no longer rely on a single server. Thus, connectivity will be improved by providing several network alternatives to each school. "The next aspect is that a technical team from Telkom will arrive a month before and will continue to monitor the network round the clock until the end of the exams and prepare the base in all 38 cities to ensure internet access during the exam period," he stated. Meanwhile, Vice Governor of East Java Saifullah Yusuf has expressed hope that various parties, such as Telkom, PLN, the headmasters, and technicians, would contribute to minimizing the risks of failure. "Telkom has already guaranteed that there will be no internet connection problems. PLN has also said there will not be any power outages, and the power capacity is already in surplus, and they have a surplus power of as much as 1.5 thousand megawatts," he explained. According to data, 1,454 high schools (SMA), 1,798 technical schools (SMK), and 942 Islamic high schools (MA), with 156,710; 199,365; and 61,171 students respectively, will hold this year's computer-based exam. With a total of 417,252 students registered for the exam to be held on Apr 3-6 for SMK and on Apr 10-13 for SMA and MA, a follow-up test will be conducted on Apr 18-19 for those who are unable to attend the test on the initial dates.