Starlink Rivals Emerge in Indonesia, Here's the Leak

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - A number of Indonesian satellite operators are developing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The companies are now in the process of filing for satellite orbits and frequencies with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

“Indonesia is indeed in the process. There are applications from our satellite operators, and we have processed them with the ITU,” said Adis Alifiawan, Director of Radio Frequency Spectrum Arrangement, Satellite Orbit, and Digital Infrastructure Standardisation at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), following the commemoration of 50 Years of Indonesian Satellites on Wednesday (8/7/2026).

He explained that the companies currently in the process are PSN and Telkomsat.

Nevertheless, the development process requires a considerable amount of time. It is not only a matter of technological readiness and funding, but international coordination must also be carried out.

Based on ITU regulations, the regulatory period takes at least seven years, from the application stage until the satellite is launched. So no operator will be launching in the near future.

“That is their timing. From our side, we see it as a process; the period itself indeed runs from entering the ITU until the satellite must be launched within seven years,” he said.

Meanwhile, he explained that Komdigi’s role is to facilitate the submission of orbital slots and satellite frequency spectrum to the ITU.

“So our role is to assist that process, to facilitate it with the international ITU. As for how to build it and how many satellites, that really depends on the capability of the operators themselves,” Adis explained.

On that occasion, he also explained that LEO satellite services are often associated with Starlink, owned by Elon Musk. In fact, LEO refers to a satellite orbit located around 300-2,000 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, or low Earth orbit.

“That is low orbit. Our friends at LAPAN already have that. So the LAPAN satellites operated by BRIN are indeed positioned in LEO,” he said.

The LAPAN satellites in LEO orbit are LAPAN-A1, LAPAN-A2, and LAPAN-A3. However, their purpose is not to provide internet services, but rather for regional analysis and natural resource monitoring.