Starlink, Elon Musk’s Internet Satellite Enters Indonesia

VIVA – The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) has officially gave permission for Starlink, Elon Musk's internet satellite to entered Indonesia on June 10, 2022. This permission only applies to backhaul services in the operation of the closed fixed network of PT Telkom Satellite Indonesia (Telkomsat), not to serve the general public.

Backhaul is a technology that facilitates data transfer from one telecommunications infrastructure to another. This technology can be used to support the provision of broadband internet services, especially 4G cellular in village areas that are not yet connected directly with fiber optic cables.

Meanwhile, Starlink is a project of SpaceX, which provides satellite internet that aims to provide high-speed broadband connections and to build an internet network that is interconnected with thousands of other satellites.

"The Starlink Satellite Service can only operate if the construction of the Gateway Station-Terrestrial Component to receive satellite capacity services, as well as the processing of the Starlink Satellite Radio Station Permit (ISR) has also been completed by Telkomsat," said The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Spokesman, Dedy Permadi on Monday, June 13, 2022.

For this reason, Dedy Permadi ensures that Telkomsat's use of Elon Musk's Starlink service operations must comply with the provisions in force in Indonesia, including the fulfillment of anchor rights obligations.

The anchorage permission will be evaluated every year and it can be extended based on the evaluation results and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations.

Dedy added that currently bilateral trade relations in the telecommunications and digital sectors between Indonesia and the United States are growing rapidly.

The cooperation between the two countries also includes Indonesia's plan to have three new generation satellites, namely 150GB Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) named Satria (Ka-Band), 80GB Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) as Hot Backup Satellite (Ka-band), and 32GB High Throughput Satellite (HTS) owned by Telkomsat (C & Ku-Band).

"The three satellites are planned to use SpaceX's launch rocket, Falcon 9, and are a type of satellite that orbits in Geo-stationary Orbit," explained Dedy.

For information, Southeast Asia is a development area that SpaceX is targeting next. Some time ago, the Philippine government reportedly gave permission to the Starlink service. This was also confirmed by Elon Musk through a tweet on his twitter, May 27, 2022.