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Indonesian telcos express concern over competition from Starlink
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SpaceX's Falcon 9 is ready for the second launch of 60 Starlink satellites on May 16, 2019, from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the United States. (Handout/SPACEX/AFP/File)
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ndonesian telecommunication service providers are considering the potential impacts of United States-based SpaceX offering business-to-consumer (B2C) services through its Starlink satellite constellation.
On Monday, Kata Data reported that the satellite operator, which already provides business-to-business (B2B) services in Indonesia, is looking at launching services directly accessible to consumers.
Marwan O. Baasir, secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Cellular Operators (ATSI), admitted that Starlink services in a B2B context could assist local telcos, particularly those operating in rural regions, by providing necessary backhaul support.
However, if the business model was focused on B2C services through a direct retail presence, it may pose a threat to local players, Marwan told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Not only were telecommunication service providers at risk, but also companies offering the necessary infrastructure, such as those involved in fiber-optic cables and communication towers.
"Therefore, we request that [Starlink’s entry into the Indonesian market] take place in a regulatory regime of guiding principles. Same service, same rules. If engaging in retail, [Starlink] must also be a national service provider that cannot evade this trading system,” stated Marwan.
As reported by Kompas on Aug. 2, 2023, Starlink currently has 4,519 satellites in orbit, of which 4,487 are active, and SpaceX is working on a total constellation of 42,000 satellites to establish a global network for high-speed internet connectivity.
