Starlink Rivals Emerge in Indonesia, Here's the Leak

A number of Indonesian satellite operators are developing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The companies are currently in the process of applying for satellite orbits and frequencies to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “Indonesia is indeed in the process. There are applications from our satellite operators, and we have already processed them to the ITU,” said Adis Alifiawan, Director of Radio Frequency Spectrum, Satellite Orbit, and Digital Infrastructure Standardisation at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), following the 50th Anniversary of Indonesian Satellites commemoration on Wednesday (8/7/2026). He explained that the companies currently in the process are PSN and Telkomsat. However, the development process requires a long time. It is not just a matter of technological readiness and funding; international coordination also needs to be carried out. Based on ITU provisions for the regulatory period, it takes at least seven years from the application until the satellite is launched. Therefore, no operator will be launching one in the near future. “It should be according to their timing. From our perspective, we see it as a process, the period from entering the ITU until it must be launched is seven years,” he said. Meanwhile, he explained that Komdigi’s role is to facilitate the application for orbit slots and satellite frequency spectrum to the ITU. “So our role is to assist this process, facilitating it to the international ITU. How to build it, how many, that is more dependent on the capability of the operator itself,” Adis clarified. On the occasion, he also explained that LEO satellite services are often associated with Elon Musk’s Starlink. In reality, LEO refers to a satellite orbit located around 300-2,000 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, or low Earth orbit. “That is talking about low orbit. Our friends at LAPAN already have them. So our colleagues at BRIN, through the LAPAN satellites, are indeed positioned in LEO,” he explained. The LAPAN satellites in LEO are LAPAN-A1, LAPAN-A2, and LAPAN-A3. Their purpose is not for providing internet services, but rather for regional analysis and natural resource monitoring.