SATRIA-1 has been successfully put into orbit. Owned by an Indonesian communication company, the satellite was built in France for US$ 540 million. Two thirds of Indonesians have access to the online network, but connectivity is limited in the eastern islands.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesia’s SATRIA-1 satellite was successfully placed in orbit today by Space X, the spacecraft company of multibillionaire Elon Musk, to bring Internet connectivity even to the country’s remotest areas.
Owned and operated by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), SATRIA-1[*] was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space France.
The geostationary communications satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Estimated initially at US$ 450 million, the project’s final cost was around US$ 540 million.
About two thirds of Indonesia's 280 million people have access to the Internet, but connectivity is limited in the country's eastern islands, which are still underdeveloped in some respects.
“Satellite technology will accelerate Internet access to villages in areas that cannot be reached by fibre optics in the next 10 years," said Mahfud MD, Indonesia’s Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, ahead of the launch.
The satellite will occupy the orbital slot above eastern Papua region province and provide Internet access to 50,000 service points, according to the government.
On twitter, Indonesian President Joko Widodo noted that SATRIA-1 was will ensure “equal distribution of digital infrastructure” to everyone across the country.
[*] SATRIA stands for Satellite of the Republic of Indonesia (Satelite Republik Indonesia).