The Indonesian government is committed to ensuring internet connectivity for all Indonesians, even those living in the most disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.
The launch of the Republic of Indonesia Satellite-1 (SATRIA-1) is the most recent strategy implemented by the government to bolster internet connectivity nationwide.
The satellite was successfully launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) in Florida, the United States, on Sunday (June 18) afternoon local time or Monday (June 19) morning Indonesia time.
The reusable rocket Falcon 9, owned by American-based private spacecraft manufacturer and launcher company Space X, was utilized to launch the satellite.
Related news: SATRIA-1 satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral
"The launch of SATRIA-1 is one of our efforts for equitable digital infrastructure development in public service centers throughout Indonesia," President Joko Widodo stated in connection with the successful launch through his official Instagram account @jokowi on Monday.
Acknowledging that their region will be one of the priority service areas for the new internet satellite, residents in the Papua region enthusiastically welcomed the launch of SATRIA-1.
Public viewing of the satellite launch is also being organized in various regions in Papua, including Jayapura City in Papua, Mimika District in Central Papua, and Manokwari City in West Papua.
“We highly commended the Indonesian government, and we are thankful for the (satellite) launching,” Papua Province’s Communication and Informatics Office’s Information Technology Department Head, Thomas Sibi, stated.
Better internet connectivity will benefit people in all their activities, including to access education, business, and healthcare. Better internet will also ensure faster implementation of government programs in Papua, he remarked.
The official stated that of all cities and regions in Papua, Mamberamo Raya District still has no internet connection.
Sibi noted that during a recent visit to Mamberamo Raya, the office received a complaint from health officers of bad internet connection in the region. They said that unstable internet impedes their work to make medical reports, which must be conducted online.
He expressed confidence that SATRIA-1 would end the internet blackspot in Mamberamo Raya as well as in other regions in the Papuan region where the internet connection is lackluster.
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Concurring with Sibi, Jayapura acting mayor Frans Pekey stated that although the city is covered by internet, there are some regions, particularly in rural and frontier areas, that still have no internet connection.
Hence, the SATRIA-1 satellite is expected to free those regions from the internet blackspot and allow them to join the internet realm.
Pekey said he was also glad that Jayapura hosted the public viewing of the satellite launch attended by local officials, residents, and schoolchildren.
The acting mayor expressed optimism that the SATRIA-1 satellite network installation will be developed soon in the region to ensure the entire system will be operational by January 2024.
SATRIA-1 will occupy the 146 degrees east longitude orbit, hovering over Papua’s sky. The satellite is the Indonesian government's first multi-functional satellite, with the largest capacity among Asian countries and the fifth-largest in the world.
The internet satellite, which is expected to have an operational life of 15 years, will need four to five months to reach its designated orbit area after its launch.
According to a 2023 study conducted by the Ministry of Communications and Informatics' Telecommunication and Informatics Accessibility Agency (BAKTI), the SATRIA-1 satellite will have a capacity of 150 Gbps.
It will provide equal internet access to 50 thousand public facilities in 3T regions, such as schools, hospitals, community health centers, village offices, sub-district offices, as well as security services.
The internet speed at each public facility served is expected to reach 4 Mbps, increasing from the earlier 1 Mbps for each point calculated in 2018 during the start of the SATRIA-1 satellite project.
In addition to SATRIA-1, the ministry will launch Hot Backup Satellite (HBS) in the third quarter of 2023.
BAKTI’s Head of Telecommunication Service and Information Ade Dimianti explained that SATRIA-1 is expected to commence its service in early 2024, as the satellite is required to undergo several phases before it is operational.
After its release at the orbit point, SATRIA-1 will undergo the in-orbit testing phase by operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) for three weeks.
The satellite will then undergo the in-orbit acceptance review phase, expected to take place next December.
Earth station segments and terminals for satellite internet access at public service points would also be prepared after the launch, the official stated.
Dimianti expressed hope that SATRIA-1, which will provide internet connection for more Indonesians, can be utilized optimally.
“Schoolchildren, health officers, and government officials can perform their tasks properly with the internet access provided by the satellite,” the division head remarked.
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Translator: Qadri Pratiwi, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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