Indonesia to Build Asia's Largest Satellite

The Indonesian government has signed partnership, guarantee, and regress agreements of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the Multifunction Satellite Project (SMF). The satellite, named Satelit Republik Indonesia (SATRIA), will be constructed starting by the end of 2019 by French satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space.

“The SMF project is one of the National Strategic Projects contained in Presidential Regulation No. 56/2018,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution after the signing of the PPP at the National Museum in Jakarta, Friday (3/5).

“I believe developing infrastructure means investing to support better economic activities among the society.”

According to the Minister of Communication and Information Rudiantara, Satria sets to be the largest satellite in Asia in terms of capacity. While globally, it ranks fifth in the same category.

SATRIA is targeted to be ready for launch to orbit 146 by the second quarter of 2022. After that, the satellite, which uses Ka-band frequency with the Very High Throughput Satellite technology and a frequency capacity of 150 gbps, is expected to start operation by early 2023.