BALI, Indonesia: Elon Musk arrived on the Indonesian island of Bali on Sunday in anticipation of the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink internet service. The Indonesian government hopes this service will enhance internet access and health services in remote regions of the extensive archipelago.
Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan welcomed Musk’s arrival at Bali’s airport on Sunday morning.
According to his Instagram post, they plan to discuss several key collaborations, including the launch of Starlink.
Pandjaitan emphasized that achieving equal internet access across Indonesia, which spans three time zones and houses over 270 million people, would allow those in remote areas to enjoy the same high-speed internet as urban residents.
SpaceX’s Starlink has already secured a permit to operate in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, as confirmed by Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi to Reuters last week.
The satellite unit obtained authorization to operate as an internet service provider for retail consumers and received a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) permit, enabling it to provide network services.
Indonesia is the third Southeast Asian country where Starlink will operate. Malaysia granted the firm a license for internet services last year, and a Philippine-based company signed an agreement with SpaceX in 2022.
Starlink is widely used in Ukraine by the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations. In February, Ukraine also requested SpaceX to prevent Russia from using its Starlink terminals for communications in Russian-occupied areas.
