SpaceX subsidiary Starlink obtains an operating authorisation in Indonesia

The communications minister informed Reuters on Wednesday that Elon Musk's SpaceX satellite division had obtained a license to operate in Indonesia.

Minister Budi Arie Setiadi stated in an interview that Starlink had been granted permission to function as a retail internet service provider and that it was authorised to supply networks after obtaining a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) authorization.

The third nation in Southeast Asia where Starlink will conduct business is Indonesia. Last year, Malaysia granted the company a license to offer internet services, and in 2022, a Philippine-based company inked a contract with SpaceX.

Budi stated, "Starlink has met all the requirements needed to operate commercially in Indonesia," although he did not specify the investment worth. 

According to Budi, the firm is scheduled to perform a trial this month in Nusantara, the future capital of Indonesia, and a launch is anticipated shortly after. He also said that the experiment will last for one week.

When operating in Indonesia, Starlink will engage with regional network access providers in accordance with national laws.

He said, "The government anticipates that Starlink will offer internet services to Indonesia's remote areas."

In the world of satellite internet, SpaceX's Starlink dominates with over 60% of the 7,500 satellites in orbit. 

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com)