TEMPO.CO, Kourou - The launch of BRIsat, a satellite owned by state-owned bank PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero), has entered the final phase, having previously been postponed twice. Ariane 5 rocket that will carry BRIsat and Echistar XVIII, owned by a US company, has been rolled out to the launch pad owned by Arianspace in Kourou, French Guiana, Thursday June 16, 2016.

President Director of BRI Asmawi Syam has expressed his relief that the preparation of Ariane 5 launch is progressing smoothly. Asmawi believed that soon after orbiting the Earth, BRIsat will become BRI’s vehicle to expand the outreach of its financial service even in remote areas. “Particularly in a bid to provide digital banking service that will become the backbone of businesses in the future,” Asmawi said at the launching location.

Earlier, the launch of BRIsat had been postponed twice due to some issues. Last week the BRIsat launch was postponed due to an anomaly in the cryogenic connectors. The launch had once again been postponed on Wednesday due to issues in electrical connection. Arianespace, the contractor of the launch, has apologized over the delays.

BRI claims that by using BRIsat it will save up to 40 percent in operating costs, or roughly Rp200 billion. BRI had been leasing a satellite that carried 23 transponders from a third party, costing them Rp500 billion per year. BRIsat, that carried 45 transponders, which consist of nine Ku-Band transponders and 36 C-Band transponders, will also be utilized by government agencies.

FERY FIRMANSYAH