Telkom, Telkomsat Launch Merah Putih 2 Satellite Marking New Era for Connectivity in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, along with its subsidiary Telkomsat, has successfully launched the Merah Putih 2 Satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Ministry of State Owned Enterprise said in a press release. 

This event, which took place on Tuesday, February 20th, at 15.11 local time (Wednesday, February 21st, at 03.11 West Indonesia Time), marks the introduction of TelkomGroup's first High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology into their fleet, also known as ‘broadband satellite’.

The Merah Putih 2, the 11th satellite in Telkom's arsenal, promises a substantial capacity upgrade to 32Gbps, aiming to provide equitable connectivity across Indonesia, including in the most remote and challenging areas (3T areas). Launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, it is positioned at an orbital slot of 113 degrees East Longitude, poised to serve as a cornerstone in TelkomGroup's expanding satellite business portfolio, as highlighted by Telkom's President Director, Ririek Adriansyah.

"Alhamdulillah, Satellite Merah Putih 2 was successfully launched today, smoothly,” he said in Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

Equipped with active transponders in both C-band and Ku-band frequencies, the Merah Putih 2 Satellite is expected to become Indonesia's most reliable HTS or broadband satellite. This is primarily due to its dual-frequency setup, with the C-Band frequency offering optimal performance against the country's heavy rainfall. The satellite is built on the Spacebus 4000B2 platform by Thales Alenia Space, ensuring a design life of 15 years.

Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor, will oversee the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) and the in-orbit tests (IOT) and provide ongoing support for the satellite control system from the ground control station. Telkomsat has also partnered with SpaceX for the launch, Jasindo for satellite risk insurance, and Telesat for satellite procurement and manufacturing consultancy.

The Merah Putih 2 Satellite is set to enhance national digital infrastructure resilience, secure and maintain Indonesia's orbital slot at 113 East, and boost TelkomGroup's internal capacity from 10 Gbps to 42.4 Gbps. HTS technology, known for its small yet wide area coverage design (multi-spot beam), enables the satellite to transmit large amounts of data to specific locations, maximizing the efficiency of frequency resources.

Telkomsat's President Director, Lukman Hakim Abd Rauf, emphasized the technological advancements and the meticulous partner selection process based on compliance, good corporate governance, and cost-efficiency principles. Scheduled to be operational by April 2024, the Merah Putih 2 Satellite will play a pivotal role in promoting digital equality in Indonesia, supporting the maritime industry, and enhancing data sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign satellite capacities.

NABIHA ZAIN

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