The procurement of multifunctional satellites could help the government expand Internet access, Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate has said.
He made the statement during a press conference here on Tuesday (March 15, 2022), according to a press release.
He said that the government has so far installed 360 thousand kilometers of optical fiber on land and seabed. However, this is not enough considering that some territories in Indonesia are still not adequately connected.
“Not all of us can connect to fiber optic networks in Indonesia, so we have to combine it with a microwave link in the form of satellite communication,” Plate said.
In order to have optimal satellite communication services, the ministry has chosen the latest technology that fits the need based on the state’s topography.
He said that his administration has requested the procurement of satellites with software-defined satellite technology, which are satellites with service areas that can be regulated through their software upstream.
“Well, we will learn, and hopefully, this new technology will provide or allow for more competitive satellite prices,” the minister added.
Plate said the HBS satellite is a backup for SATRIA-I using very high-throughput technology which is being built and scheduled for completion in mid-2023. The HBS satellite also provides additional capacity for Internet network infrastructure.
“In terms of bandwidth, HTS with this new technology has a capacity equivalent to the SATRIA-I Satellite. To be clear, this 150 Gbps is used by BAKTI Kominfo (Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency of the Communication and Informatics Ministry) of 80 and more will be used by ASEAN countries. PSN’s own use is to replace the need for the Nusantara-2 Satellite, which failed to be placed into orbit in April 2020,” he elaborated.
The minister emphasized that his ministry has also considered technical aspects related to operators, users, and satellite manufacturing factories.
“It’s definitely been calculated, analyzed properly. So it’s clear, yes, this satellite is Ka-band, while Telkom’s satellite is Ku-band and C-band, so they won’t interfere with each other,” he added.
Source: Antara News