Lampung Governor Says Satellite Must Deliver Tangible Benefits to the Public
Lampung Governor Rahmat Mirzani Djausal has said the main value of the satellite cooperation between Indonesia and China lies not in the success of the satellite launch alone, but in how the technology can be used to support data-based development and deliver real benefits to the public.
The statement was made by Mirza following the launch of the Lampung-1 satellite from the offshore waters of Haiyang City, Shandong Province, eastern China, on Wednesday (5/8).
Lampung-1 is the first hyperspectral satellite used by the Lampung Provincial Government and was developed through cooperation between STAR.VISION, Wuhan University, the Lampung Provincial Government, and a number of institutions from both countries.
“The most important thing about this cooperation is not the rocket launch, but how this satellite data can be used for development needs in Lampung Province. With more accurate and higher-quality data, various policies can be formulated more precisely,” Mirza told Xinhua.
According to him, Lampung-1 holds historical and strategic significance for Lampung because it marks an initial step for the province to make greater use of science and technology in driving economic transformation and regional development.
As a province whose economy is largely supported by the agricultural sector, Lampung is expected to gain direct benefits from the hyperspectral technology used by the satellite.
Mirza said the technology can produce more accurate data to help project agricultural production, thereby supporting policy-making while increasing farmer productivity and strengthening local businesses.
“This technology is expected not only to strengthen the regional economy, but also to provide real benefits for farmers and local businesses,” he said.
Beyond agriculture, the hyperspectral imaging capability of Lampung-1 can also be used to support marine resource management, environmental monitoring, spatial planning, and disaster mitigation, all of which are closely linked to development and the lives of the people of Lampung.
Mirza also assessed that cooperation with China in the space sector opens new opportunities for Lampung to utilise advanced technology in regional development. He expressed hope that the Lampung-1 project will become one of a growing number of collaborations between Lampung and partners in China in the future.
He recalled his visit to Haiyang in May 2025, when he visited the Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility owned by STAR.VISION as well as the Oriental Maritime Space Port.
According to him, the visit gave him an insight into the complexity of the science and engineering behind the development of a satellite.
“I was very impressed by the complexity, science, and engineering behind the satellite. It is a very complicated process and quite a long journey. I am very pleased that this satellite has finally been successfully launched and is beginning to provide benefits for the public,” he said.
During the visit, the Lampung Provincial Government and the Shandong Provincial Government also strengthened relations through sister province cooperation. According to Mirza, the relationship opens space for broader collaboration, not only in space technology, but also in agribusiness, export-import trade, energy, marine products, fisheries, and human resource development.
Human resource development is an important part of the technology cooperation, Mirza continued. The Lampung Provincial Government is currently preparing a programme to send around 100 young people from Lampung to China to take part in training in remote sensing and satellite communication systems.
According to him, a number of participants from Lampung have previously taken part in training and lectures in China, while his office has established communication with several local universities regarding the capacity-building programme.
“We hope that in the future Lampung will be able to operate satellites, process data, and conduct spatial analysis independently with the support of human resources that we continue to develop,” he said.
Mirza said technology ultimately requires human resources capable of mastering and utilising it. Therefore, building the capacity of the younger generation is important so that technological progress can truly produce economic progress and improved public welfare.
He expressed hope that the Lampung-1 project can pave the way for more cooperation between Lampung and China in the future and expand collaboration between the two parties, particularly in technology and human resource development.