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A Jakarta-based radio network plans to expand its nationwide reach after winning the prestigious King Baudouin International Development Prize for 2008-2009 in Belgium.

Santoso, KBR68H executive director, said on Wednesday that the network planned to increase this year the number of relay stations for its news operations from the current 650 local radio stations to 700.

Under a program called “Asia Calling,” its news reports are also aired in nine countries in the region, including the Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Australia.

“We want to expand the network to remote areas such as Papua, Siberut Island, Maluku and Sumba so that local people can be well informed,” Santoso said.

“It will help develop [these areas] as well as strengthen democracy in the country and encourage citizen participation through information.”

Santoso said that the 150,000 euro ($210,000) prize money they received would also be used to upgrade the network’s Jakarta-based studio, and to produce a television program.

“We are going to replace the old equipment with modern ones and we are thinking of having a television program just like our friends in Manila have,” he said.

Santoso said the biggest challenge to broadening the network was funding. “It is hard to build a radio network in remote areas especially where there is still no electricity,” he said.

“Sometimes we have to spend more on supplying power to the area than on the radio infrastructure. Funding remains the burden,” Santoso added. “The radio network usually raises funds from nongovernmental organizations and private firms that support media and democracy.”

Marc Trenteseau, the Belgian ambassador to Indonesia, hailed KBR68H’s achievements as important for Indonesia.

“It is very important for Indonesia as it is the most diverse country in Asia with many people from different religions and cultures,” Trenteseau said, adding that the radio network also helped promote better understanding among people across the archipelago.

Trenteseau said KBR68H won the prize because of its big development impact on local residents.

“The network’s ability to provide remote areas with access to information is the difference between this radio and other media in the country,” he said. “Radio remains the most flexible and accessible media.”

Santoso received the award on May 19 at the Belgium Royal Palace from Dr. Piot, chairman of the King Baudouin Foundation, with Belgium’s royal family in attendance.

Since 1978, the King Baudouin International Development Prize has been awarded biannually to persons or organizations that have made a substantial contribution to the growth of developing countries. The list of prize winners covers a wide range of fields, from literacy to the education of rural communities.

KBR68H is the only radio news agency in Indonesia with some 50 journalists in Jakarta and a hundred correspondents across the country. In Jakarta, the program can be heard on Green Radio 89.2 FM.