Indonesia and SpaceX Launch Major Satellite to Boost Internet Connectivity
Indonesia, in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has successfully launched the country’s largest telecommunications satellite from the United States. The launch is part of a $540 million project designed to enhance internet connectivity in the remote areas of the Indonesian archipelago.
Approximately two-thirds of Indonesia’s 280 million residents currently have access to the Internet. However, connectivity remains limited in the far-flung, underdeveloped eastern islands of this Southeast Asian country. “Satellite technology will accelerate internet access to villages in areas that cannot be reached by fiber optics in the next 10 years,” said Mahfud MD, a senior Indonesian minister, in a statement ahead of the launch.
Named the Satellite of the Republic of Indonesia (SATRIA-1), the 4.5-tonne satellite was constructed by Thales Alenia Space. It was deployed into orbit from Florida by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which subsequently returned to an offshore site in a precision landing.
The satellite will be positioned in the orbital slot above Indonesia’s eastern Papua region. With a throughput capacity of 150 gigabytes per second, it is set to provide internet access to 50,000 public service points. The Indonesian government has announced that the project is a public-private partnership between the government and the Indonesian satellite service provider PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga.
This landmark launch marks a significant step in Indonesia’s commitment to expanding internet access to its most remote regions, aiming to bridge the digital divide and foster socio-economic development in the country.
