When Justice Understands the Good
Imagine a village in the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra. Residents’ homes stand among tropical trees and along the coast. The sea connects people across the islands while also separating them from services on the mainland.
To reach Sikakap from Padang, travellers must cross about 185 kilometres of sea. The ferry journey can take 12 hours, while a fast boat cuts the trip to around four.
In a place like this, the internet means more than entertainment. Where network coverage has yet to adequately reach communities, providing an internet connection opens a window on a wider world.
That is what 39-year-old Yogi Gilang Arya Setia set out to do. He sold Starlink internet vouchers to residents of Sikakap District. His efforts, however, took him to court in Padang, far from the village he had hoped to help.
Prosecutors sought a three-month prison sentence for providing telecommunications services without a licence. On Thursday, 15 October 2026, a panel of judges at the Padang District Court found Yogi guilty but granted him forgiveness without imposing a sentence.
The judges took into account the tangible benefits his business brought to people in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas. Their decision offers an important lesson about the relationship between law and humanity.
Yogi bought Starlink satellite internet service and sold access through vouchers from 2024 until 1 October 2025. He breached licensing requirements, but at the same time helped residents obtain a service they needed.
Initiatives like this deserve recognition. Development does not always begin with major projects, state budgets or official ceremonies. Sometimes it starts with someone who sees their neighbours’ difficulties and tries to address them.
The judges’ decision does not remove the obligation to obtain a licence. But Yogi’s case shows how important proportionate rules are for small businesses in remote areas. Meeting telecommunications licensing requirements can itself be a considerable burden.
The good news is that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has co-ordinated with Starlink and local communications network providers to help Yogi continue his business.
This is a more promising approach: finding a way to keep internet services available to Sikakap residents while giving Yogi the certainty to operate legally. But the cost of access must not become a burden on the public.
Alternatively, Yogi could reshape the business as a community-based social service. If its primary purpose is to help people get connected, funding could involve residents, educational institutions, foundations or social organisations.
The operator could calculate subscription, electricity, network equipment and maintenance costs, then devise a transparent funding model.