Indonesia Targets Asia-Pacific Satellite Industry Market

Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), Ismail, stated that Indonesia is capable of dominating the satellite industry market in the Southeast Asia region. The satellite ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific is developing rapidly, and services for internet connectivity are still needed. “When we build satellite services, this is not just about connectivity. We are talking about inclusivity, how the entire society can connect as quickly as possible,” said Ismail during his speech at the Asia Pacific Satellite International Conference (APSAT) 2026 in Jakarta, quoted from Kontan, Tuesday (12/5/2026). Chairman of ASSI for the 2026–2029 period, Risdianto Yuli, explained that satellites ensure national digital service resilience. If this is achieved, expanding wings internationally is very possible. Instead, Indonesia’s biggest homework is integrating industry, research, talent, and policy into one sustainable strategy that provides maximum positive impact for the satellite ecosystem itself. In collaboration with the Technical University of Berlin, LAPAN-A1 was designed based on the DLR-TUBSAT design. “The box-shaped LAPAN-A1 satellite, weighing 57 kilograms and with dimensions of 45x45x27 centimetres, is used to directly monitor conditions on the Earth’s surface,” explained BRIN. Initially, the satellite was expected to operate for 2-3 years after launch, but to this day, LAPAN-A1 is still operational. “That first-generation satellite is still orbiting and able to receive signals from ground stations, although some payloads are no longer working optimally,” he explained. LAPAN-A1 serves as proof that Indonesia is capable of producing its own satellites, becoming a milestone for the domestic space industry to develop further.