TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned telecommunication provider PT Telkom ensured the launch of Merah Putih Satellite would be carried out on Tuesday, August 7, local times at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Orlando, Florida, United States.

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) chosen by Telkom as the launching contractor reported that the Merah Putih Satellite (red white Satellite) has been integrated with the rocket and ready to launch.

“The integration process of the rocket and satellite is done so now we’re waiting for the launching time,” said Telkom’s Network & IT Solution (NITS) director Zulhelfi Abidin in Florida, Sunday, August 5.

Abidin explained the satellite launching costed a lower budget of around 25 percent from the previous launching. Telkom 3S Satellite launched on February 15, 2016, spent the US $215 million, while Merah Putih Satellite costs the US $165 million and that included assurance fee at the US $10 million.

The saving resulted since the satellite would use SpaceX’s rocket which was reusable up to ten times.

Merah Putih Satellite was expected to settle the communication network issue in Indonesia, especially in secluded and outer regions of the country, as well as a potential business of Telkom company in South Asia.

ANTARA