Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics Archives

SATRIA-1 launch to improve internet access across Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia Satellite (SATRIA-1) successfully lifted off on Sunday at 18:21 local time from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) in the US, intending to increase internet coverage for the disadvantaged, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.

SATRIA-1 successfully launched using a Falcon 9 rocket at 6:21 PM from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC 40) in the U.S. on Sunday (18/6/2023). (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti/aa)

The satellite launch is an effort to equalize development and include the Indonesian public in the digital economy with the provision of internet in the 3T regions and in the country. SATRIA-1 will cover the entire Indonesian territory, including remote areas.

“This first Indonesian satellite, SATIRA-1, aims to distribute internet access evenly, particularly for purposes of education, medical, public services, the military and the police force,” acting Communication and Informatics minister Mahfud MD said here on Monday.

The satellite was launched using American-based private spacecraft manufacturer and launch company Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket. The launch runs for about ten minutes and SATRIA-1 will head to the orbit point at 146O of East Longitude.

“It was a great achievement and success, thanks to the support of all Indonesian people,” the acting president director of Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI), Arief Tri Hardiyanto, said at Kennedy Space Center, Florida after the launch of the first internet satellite owned by the Indonesian government.

After arriving at the orbit, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) along with Thales Alenia Space (TAS) will conduct In-Orbit Testing of the satellite for three weeks to ensure the function of the satellite. The next phase of the satellite operating series is the In-Orbit Acceptance Review (IOAR) which is scheduled to be held in the first week of December 2023.

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO) will monitor SATRIA’s internet service quality. It hopes Indonesians will be able to utilize the internet capacity of SATRIA-1 gradually starting in January 2024.

SATRIA-1 has been built by the government since 2019 to provide equal internet access in public facilities, specifically in the 3T regions. According to the ministry’s latest study in 2023, the 150-Gbps capacity SATRIA-1 will provide expanded broadband coverage to 50 thousand public facility points in 3T regions connected to the internet.

It will provide equal internet access for public facilities in 3T regions, such as schools, hospitals, community health centers, village offices, and sub-district offices, as well as security services. The internet speed in each of these points will reach 4 Mbps, which is four folds higher than the previously projected speed of only 1 Mbps for every point in 2018.

In addition to SATRIA-1, the ministry will launch Hot Backup Satellite (HBS) in the third quarter of 2023. The Communication and Informatics Ministry stated that satellites are the best and quickest choice for equitable internet distribution in Indonesia.

Adimas Raditya FP, Mecca Yumna, Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga (c) ANTARA 2023

ASEAN strives to increase cooperation and reduce tensions in the region

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired two of three meetings on the second day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Meruorah Hotel in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday. The two meetings chaired by Jokowi are the Retreat Session and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit.

ASEAN strives to increase cooperation and reduce tension in the region

In his speech at the opening of the Session, Jokowi mentioned two important issues that became the focus of the discussion, namely reviews of the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the implementation of the 5 Point Consensus (5PC) in handling the crisis in Myanmar.

Indonesia, as Chair of ASEAN 2023, encourages the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its fellow ASEAN member countries to move forward together to increase cooperation and reduce tensions in the region, both in the Southeast Asian region and the wider region, including the Indo-Pacific.

President Jokowi invited members of ASEAN to work in synergy to ease the rising tension in the Indo-Pacific region. According to Jokowi, one way to reduce tension in the region was by implementing the AOIP. “Concrete and inclusive cooperation is essential to ease tension in the Indo-Pacific. We can use the AOIP as a concrete platform for cooperation with partner countries,” he remarked. Indo-Pacific is the world’s fastest-growing region that accounts for 65 percent of the global economy.

On Indonesia’s initiative, ASEAN launched the AOIP in 2019 to affirm the bloc’s stance in playing its role in maintaining peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region. AOIP prioritizes the practices of open and inclusive dialogue and cooperation instead of competition and rivalry. To increase the spirit of cooperation in the region, during its 2023 ASEAN chairmanship, Indonesia will hold several main events under the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific forum as part of the efforts to implement the AOIP.

The events also include an infrastructure forum, youth dialogue and digital development supporting sustainable development (SDGs), a creative economy forum, and the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. Not only in the Indo-Pacific region, but Indonesia also encourages ASEAN to strive to reduce tensions within its own region, especially by helping Myanmar to resolve its political and humanitarian crises.

ASEAN has urged the junta to implement a Five-Point Consensus peace plan agreed in April 2021 that calls for a cessation of violence, dialogue with all stakeholders, and permitting the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday (May 9) that the implementation progress of the 5PC had been discussed with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair, chose to conduct ‘non-megaphone diplomacy’ in resolving the Myanmar issues. Marsudi added that measures were taken to provide space for all parties to build trust and open communication.

At the opening of the ASEAN Summit Retreat Session on Thursday, President Jokowi stated that Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair, continuously strives for progress in the implementation of the 5PC, and through engagements with various parties urges for an inclusive dialogue, calls for the cessation of violence, facilitates the conclusion of the Joint Needs Assessment through the AHA Centre to deliver humanitarian assistance.

However, Jokowi admitted there had been no significant progress from implementing the 5PC. “Therefore, ASEAN unity is required to decide on the next steps,” he said. Nevertheless, President Jokowi and Minister Marsudi have also emphasized that the lack of progress in implementing the 5 PC did not mean that ASEAN would give up on the situation in Myanmar.

In fact, it means that ASEAN must be more united to help fellow member countries, especially Myanmar to get out of the crisis, so that all ASEAN members “can move forward together and leave no one behind”. Furthermore, Jokowi emphasized that issues related to the current situation in Myanmar should not hinder efforts to accelerate the development of the ASEAN community.

During its chairmanship, Indonesia adopted the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” which reflects its will to make ASEAN important and relevant as the world’s center of growth. Indonesia is seeking to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity and institutional effectiveness in hopes of readying the bloc to face challenges in the next two decades.

The chair is also committed to escorting the Southeast Asian region towards ASEAN 2045 by making it more adaptive, responsive, and competitive through various measures that are in line with the principles found in the ASEAN Charter. In addition, Indonesia is willing to lead the ASEAN countries in efforts to strengthen economic recovery and make the region an engine of sustainable growth.

By Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Sri Haryati
COPYRIGHT (c) ANTARA 2023

Indonesia ensures readiness for the 42nd ASEAN Summit Labuan Bajo

Indonesia, the current holder of the ASEAN Chairmanship, will host the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 9-11, 2023. With the “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” chairmanship theme, Indonesia directed ASEAN cooperation in 2023 to continue strengthening the bloc’s relevance to new challenges.

To ensure the summit’s success, the authority is revving up its preparation to welcome ASEAN Summit delegates and participants in all aspects, particularly security, accommodations, and media support.

To secure the summit, National Police Chief General ListyoSigit Prabowo said a command center had been set up to monitor and supervise all activities related to the event. Communication devices of all officers would be connected to the command center, and they will also report to the center. The command center is also expected to monitor disaster potential to ensure prompt mitigation measures.

The National Police also ready eight security task forces to participate in the joint military-police Operation Komodo 2023 to secure the ASEAN Summit. The team partook in the tactical floor game (TFG) on Thursday (May 4) to ensure their readiness for the summit.

Meanwhile, Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G Plate said that Meruorah Hotel, Ayana Resort Hotel, and Bintang Flores Hotel had been designated as the 42nd ASEAN Summit’s central locations.

The Ayana Resort Hotel would be the venue for the welcoming dinner and retreat session for state leaders of ASEAN countries during the summit, and the hotel management has readied all aspects. In addition, Meruorah Hotel is determined to promote local products by serving them exclusively in the delegates’ rooms.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said that some 1,500 rooms are still available in 38 hotels, ranging from three- to five-star hotels, for participants of the ASEAN Summit. The local authority also prepared several ships for extra accommodation during the event.
Moreover, to facilitate the delegates and other participants, particularly the media, Indonesia ensured that the digital infrastructure and public communication network for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo would be adequate.

“[The summit] is also supported by adequate digital telecommunication technology and infrastructure such as optical fiber, 4G network, or experience of using 5G network,” Minister Plate said after visiting the media center for the ASEAN summit. Similar public communication service facilities with the same standards as G20 Summit last year are prepared for the media.

The ministry also prepared Bintang Flores Hotel as the media center that can accommodate up to 340 people during the ASEAN Summit, which preparations are expected to complete this week. The hotel will be equipped with adequate facilities for journalists.

At least 319 journalists from national media, official media, and foreign correspondents were verified last Tuesday to cover the ASEAN Summit.

Additionally, ten top local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will showcase their products during the 42nd ASEAN Summit at Meruorah Hotel, Labuan Bajo, on May 9-11.

The 10 MSMEs will showcase their finest handicraft items, including woven fabrics, clothing, and other accessories. In addition to artworks, they will serve various typical foods and beverages of West Manggarai.

Indonesia hopes that all activities will run successfully.

–Antara

Indonesian MCI Ensures Telecommunication Access for Successful ASEAN Chairmanship 2023

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Informatics (MCI) is preparing digital infrastructure to support the successful ASEAN Chairmanship 2023. Acting Director-General of Posts and Informatics Operations of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Ismail, stated that his ministry is continuously monitoring the telecommunications network to maintain its quality.

“One of MCI’s tasks is to provide telecommunications networks and internet access to ensure the smooth running of ASEAN Chairmanship 2023,” he emphasized in Jakarta on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Ismail also stated that specifically for the ASEAN Summit slated to be held in May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, MCI has ensured adequate network infrastructure. There are 3,773.73 km of fiber optic network and 2,055 ODP points in the area. In addition, there are 1,635 4G BTS and 3 5G BTS.

Regarding the quality of the network, Ismail stated that Labuan Bajo, which had previously hosted the G20 event, has been served by 4G and 5G telecommunication networks. In fact, fixed broadband operators are also available in the area.

“78.12% of the Labuan Bajo area has been covered by 4G signals. Even in residential areas, the coverage has reached 94.51%, and some areas have been served with 5G signal,” he said.

The ministry is also monitoring the quality of mobile telecommunications networks. In fact, telecommunications service operators have taken anticipatory measures by upgrading their networks through Combat BTS provision.

“We are monitoring from our Telecommunications Monitoring Center. And for the needs of ASEAN Summit 2023, telecommunications operators, especially the Telkom Group, are making various preparations, such as providing Combat BTS and upgrading some existing BTS in Golomori and Labuan Bajo, which are currently in progress by 44.7% and targeted to be completed by the second week of April 2023,” he said.

–Antara