Indonesian Government Announces Launch of SATRIA-1 Satellite for Public Service Connectivity

INTI- Jakarta, June 13, 2023 - The Acting Minister of Communication and Informatics, Mahfud MD, has announced plans for the launch of the Great Indonesian Satellite (SATRIA-1). The satellite, aimed at meeting the needs of public service access, is scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, on June 18, 2023, at 6:00 PM local time or 5:00 AM on June 19, 2023, Western Indonesian Time.

"To ensure equitable digital infrastructure in public service centers throughout Indonesia, the government proudly announces the launch of Indonesia's first satellite, SATRIA-1. The satellite will be placed in the 146 East longitude orbital slot," explained Minister Mahfud MD at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (13/06/2023).

SATRIA-1 is part of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) listed in Presidential Regulation No. 56 of 2018 concerning the Acceleration of National Strategic Project Implementation. According to Minister Mahfud MD, the launch of SATRIA-1 is a significant step towards supporting digital governance.

"The internet access provided by SATRIA-1 will bring significant benefits to communities in public service locations that currently lack access or experience inadequate internet quality. The primary beneficiaries of internet access from SATRIA-1 will be the education sector, healthcare facilities, local government offices, as well as the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Police," he explained.

SATRIA-1 will be the largest satellite in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world in terms of capacity, exceeding 100 Gbps. This substantial capacity is intended to bridge the digital divide in remote, outermost, and underdeveloped areas (3T).

"With a capacity of 150 Gbps, SATRIA-1 will be the largest internet satellite in Asia. SATRIA-1 will utilize frequency reuse concepts for efficient frequency utilization and increased bandwidth capacity compared to conventional technology," stated Acting CEO of the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Arief Tri Hardiyanto.

According to the Acting CEO of BAKTI, SATRIA-1 is a multifunctional satellite using Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) technology in the Ka-Band frequency. The provided internet capacity can reach up to 150 Gbps. SATRIA-1 can reach remote or isolated areas with cost-efficient services and faster connectivity compared to terrestrial technologies.

"Kominfo is also preparing for the procurement of the Remote Terminal Ground Segment (RTGS). It is expected that the public will be able to gradually utilize the internet capacity from SATRIA-1 starting from January 2024," he added.

Launch Scheduled for June 18, 2023

The SATRIA-1 project operates under the Government-Business Cooperation (KPBU) scheme. The Public Service Agency BAKTI, as the Project Implementing Party (PJPK), conducted the procurement bidding process and awarded the PSN Consortium as the winning bidder on April 26, 2019. Subsequently, the winning bidder, the PSN Consortium, established the implementing business entity named PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga (SNT).

The CEO of PT SNT, Adi Rahman Adiwoso, explained that SATRIA-1 will have 11 ground stations or gateways located strategically across Indonesia, including Cikarang, Batam, Banjarmasin, Tarakan, Pontianak, Kupang, Ambon, Manado, Manokwari, Timika, and Jayapura.

"The Cikarang Gateway will serve as the Primary Satellite Control Center and Network Operation Control Station," he added.

After the launch, SATRIA-1 will undergo Electric Orbit Raising (EOR) for approximately 145 days, starting from the separation of the satellite from its launch vehicle until it reaches the 146 East longitude orbit position. In that orbital position, the satellite will undergo a series of tests, including In Orbit Testing (IOT), In-Orbit Acceptance Review (IOAR), and End-to-End Test (E2E Test), to ensure optimal satellite performance.

"Planned for the fourth week of December 2023, SATRIA-1 will be ready for service and connected to the ground stations, ready to be linked with the Remote Terminal Ground Segment (RTGS) at public service locations," explained Adi Rahman Adiwoso.

The SATRIA-1 satellite will be launched into orbit by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. SATRIA-1 was built by Thales Alenia Space in France. Currently, the satellite is located at the Payload Processing Facility of SpaceX in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, after being transported by sea for 17 days from Cannes, France.

In Florida, SATRIA-1 is undergoing various preparation stages, including the installation of the rocket adapter and fairing (satellite cover) on the launch rocket. On June 15 and 16, 2023, the fairing containing the satellite will be integrated with the launch rocket, consisting of Stage 1 and Stage 2. Subsequently, the rocket will be moved from the hangar to the launch pad. The countdown will commence 4 hours before the launch, and the computer will take over the launch process 60 seconds prior.

The launch can be witnessed live on the Ministry of Communication and Informatics' YouTube channel. However, it should be noted that the satellite launch time is subject to possible changes due to weather conditions or other technical factors. ***.Hans