PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) is targeting the launch of the Nusantara 5 satellite in early September, with an estimated investment of IDR 7 trillion to IDR 7.5 trillion. 

PSN CEO and Chairman of the Indonesian Space Association, Adi Rahman Adiwoso, confirmed that all of PSN’s investment needs have been completed. The Nusantara 5 Satellite is already at the Florida Space Coast facility in the United States for processing ahead of its launch. 

“[The satellite is] in the launch process. We are waiting for a launch slot in the next two to three weeks,” said Adi after the Ariksa Panel Discussion in Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 21. 

He did not provide the exact date of the Nusantara 5 launch, noting that schedules often face delays due to factors such as satellite launch priorities in the United States, weather, and technical issues. 

“Because the launch uses an American rocket. Under agreements with all private companies, if there are state interests, such as defense, those are prioritized,” he said. 

Nevertheless, Adi is optimistic that the Nusantara 5 Satellite will still be launched as planned. “At the end of August or early September, we will check again,” he added. 

The government is also providing fiscal incentives for satellite development as part of strategic infrastructure. “There are incentives as infrastructure carried out by BKPM,” he said. 

The Nusantara 5 Satellite will cover Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The entire satellite capacity for the Philippines has been leased by the local government to expand broadband access. 

“The entire capacity for the Philippines has been taken by the Philippine government itself. Exactly like Bakti for their broadband,” Adi said. 

According to him, satellite capacity needs in the region continue to increase. Currently, the total capacity available from Telkom and PSN reaches about 400 Gbps. Meanwhile, Comdigital’s study estimates that Indonesia will need 1 Tbps by 2030. 

“Now there is Starlink. Then AWS Kuiper and others. We hope to meet all of Indonesia’s future needs,” Adi said. 

Nusantara 5 Satellite Capacity Up to 160 Gbps 

The Nusantara 5 Satellite (SNL) owned by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) is scheduled to launch next month at Florida Space Coast, United States. The satellite is expected to strengthen high-capacity connectivity for users across more than 17,000 islands in Indonesia and neighboring countries. 

According to Satnews, August 10, the Nusantara 5 Satellite was built by Boeing using the 702MP platform with a capacity of more than 160 Gbps to support broadband internet access and essential communication services in Indonesia and Southeast Asian markets. 

The Nusantara 5 Satellite is equipped with advanced payload processing technology that enables internet and communication capacity to be directed to areas with the highest demand, including major cities, remote villages, or disaster-affected regions. 

“Indonesia is one of the first countries to adopt satellite communications to connect its citizens, and the Nusantara 5 Satellite continues that legacy,” said PSN Group CEO Adi Rahman Adiwoso, quoted from Satnews, August 10. 

The satellite is also equipped with solar wings manufactured by Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, capable of generating up to 15 kW of power to support full operations during its 15-year mission. 

After launch and in-orbit testing, the Nusantara 5 Satellite is scheduled to begin commercial operations from geostationary orbit about 35,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface in 2026. 

This article is published in partnership with Katadata 

Original article here