Telkom Satelit Merah Putih project coordinator Hendra Gunawan said within 11 days after its launch, the satellite would reach orbit at 32,000 kilometers above the earth.

"It is estimated that by Aug. 18, the satellite will be in orbit," Hendra told journalists in Orlando, Florida, the United States, on Sunday.

Hendra added the new satellite would be in operation in the third week of September.

The satellite, which was built by US satellite manufacturer SSL, has been attached to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket will be moved to the launch pad Monday morning before its launch in the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 7 local time.

Telkom Network and IT Solution director Zulhelfi Abidin said both the satellite and the rocket have been attached.

"The rocket is ready to be moved to the launch pad," he said.

Telkom decided to work with SpaceX, belonging to US business magnate Elon Musk, because the cost was 25 percent lower.

Last year, Telkom worked with French company Arianespace for the launch of its Telkom 3S satellite in Kourou, French Guiana. The Telkom 3S project cost US$215 million.

With the launch of Satelit Merah Putih, Telkom will have 133 transponders that will serve its customers at home and abroad.

"The new satellite will replace the aging Telkom 1 satellite and improve our capacity," said Telkom satellite project head Tonda Priyanto. (waw)

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