Starlink Legally Enters RI, Internet Entrepreneur Leaves Message
to Elon Musk
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – General Chair of the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) Muhammad Arif Angga responded to the question of Starlink’s presence in Indonesia.
He said that his party was not against satellite internet services from the US. However, he hopes that they can collaborate with existing ISPs.
“Especially those who operate in rural areas, or Kalimantan and Sulampua [Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua],” said Arif to CNBC Indonesia , Thursday (4/4/2024).
The company owned by billionaire Elon Musk is certain to enter Indonesia as an internet service provider. It is reported that Starlink will collaborate with local internet interconnection service providers.
Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi said that Starlink operations in Indonesia would begin to be tested in the National Capital City (IKN) of the archipelago.
He has not revealed the exact date. However, trials at IKN will begin in the near future.
“It’s possible that if not before Eid, it will be after Eid,” he said in the press room of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Wednesday (3/4) yesterday.
Furthermore, Budi Arie said that Starlink has a national operating permit for B2C or retail. This means that if the trial on Starlink goes smoothly, satellite internet can also serve Indonesian people in various regions.
On the same occasion, the Director General of Postal and Information Technology, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, explained that Starlink applied for two operating permits in Indonesia. Each as a VSAT provider and internet provider (ISP).
“So they may have already complied for the internet. He is working together with NAP. Maybe his PKS [cooperation agreement] has not been completed yet,” he said.
For VSAT services, Elon Musk’s company has built hubs and other infrastructure.
He explained that Starlink plans to operate nationally and sell internet access retail. However, this business can only be run after Starlink obtains ISP permission.
“If he already gets an ISP permit, that’s just retail, but not yet, we’re still coordinating,” said Wayan.
For VSAT services, continued Wayan, Elon Musk’s company has built hubs and other infrastructure. He explained that VSAT Starlink would be used as a backhaul, namely infrastructure that connects the global internet network to internet service provider companies in Indonesia.
Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, the space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. Starlink operates approximately 4,500 satellites positioned in low Earth orbit (LEO) to provide internet access to users on Earth.
Source : CNBC INDONESIA
