DENPASAR, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, May 20, 2024- SpaceX launched its Starlink satellite-based broadband internet service in Indonesia on Sunday, May 19, 2024.1
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, arrived in Indonesia on Sunday to launch the internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation.
Starlink aims to provide affordable access to high-speed internet services, particularly in underserved and remote regions. Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands, has struggled for years to connect its outer islands with reliable internet.
During the ceremony, Musk conducted a speed test with health workers in remote areas, showcasing Starlink’s potential to bridge the digital divide.
The launch aligns with Indonesia’s plan to develop its digital technology sectors. The government of Indonesia hopes Starlink will contribute to achieving its Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, aiming to become a top-five global economy.
Musk’s visit comes just weeks after visits by CEOs of Apple and Microsoft, both exploring opportunities in Indonesia’s booming digital sector. This highlights the growing competition for a share in the country’s digital transformation.
As of now with over 1.5 million subscribers worldwide, Starlink is rapidly expanding its reach.
SpaceX’s Starlink, launched in 2019, is the world’s first and largest constellation of internet-providing satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). This technical detail allows Starlink to deliver high-speed data transfer – compared to traditional geostationary satellites.
With over 6,000 mass-produced small satellites currently operational and thousands more planned, Starlink aims to bridge the digital divide by offering high-speed broadband access to remote and underserved regions globally.2
The launch also coincides with the 10th World Water Forum, organized jointly by the Government of Indonesia and the World Water Council, taking place in Bali, Indonesia from May 18 to May 25, 2024.
On April 30, 2024, Microsoft announced a $1.7 billion investment to advance cloud and AI infrastructure in Indonesia over the next four years. The investment, Microsoft said aims to support the nation’s Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, which seeks to transform Indonesia into a global economic powerhouse. 3
- apnews.com: https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-bali-elon-musk-starlink-internet-service-8444ca8b5da4f4a9973a66f8fd1d3e0f[↩]
- starlink.com: https://www.starlink.com/map[↩]
- microsoft.com: https://news.microsoft.com/apac/2024/04/30/microsoft-announces-us1-7-billion-investment-to-advance-indonesias-cloud-and-ai-ambitions/)).
Apple also announced late April that it was looking at Indonesia to set up facilities in that country.((CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/17/apple-will-look-at-manufacturing-in-vietnam-tim-cook.html[↩]
