Indonesia is gearing up to launch its SATRIA-1 multifunctional satellite, expected to be Asia's most powerful with its 150 Gbps capacity, in its bid to provide internet connectivity across the country, even in blind spots.
ndonesia is scheduled to launch its SATRIA-1 satellite on June 19, with its operational deployment expected by early 2024, according to a senior minister.
"The Indonesian government will launch the first Republic of Indonesia satellite, or SATRIA-1 for short, in an effort to equalize development and include people in the digital economy by providing internet [access] in every area of the country," Mahfud MD, speaking in his capacity as the interim communications and information minister, said on Tuesday at his office.
The SATRIA-1 satellite is to be launched into space using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the United States.
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Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Adi Rahman Adiwoso, managing director of satellite service provider PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga (SNT), told reporters that the satellite would be ready to serve the public in early 2024 because "it takes 145 days from the launch date for the satellite to reach orbit".
"The launch [is] in June and the satellite will reach orbit in November. We will test the entire satellite system [...] by the end of December and have it ready for service in January," he said.
In line with its designation as a state-owned multifunctional satellite project (SMP), SATRIA-1 would facilitate public services, according to Ismail, the communications ministry's director general of post and information resources and devices, who spoke at the same briefing on Tuesday.
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