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Indonesia’s satellite development is advancing towards a crucial stage of enhancement as the Government of the Republic of Indonesia persistently endeavours to transform and optimise satellite utilisation in anticipation of the overarching success of Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia 2045).
Previously, satellite development has positively impacted ensuring smooth telecommunications access to even the remotest areas (3T) through the SATRIA-1 Satellite. This success has transformed connectivity in Indonesia, enhancing internet access and communication in remote areas and supporting various sectors such as education, health, and the economy. It serves as a strong foundation for further harnessing the potential of satellites in Indonesia to support economic growth and societal well-being.
Currently, the government of the Republic of Indonesia is trying to optimise the role of satellites in monitoring national maritime resources. As the world’s largest archipelagic country, with 62% of its territory consisting of water, developing marine areas is a crucial and carefully designed aspect.
Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi has intensively discussed accelerating the completion of the discussion on the use of maritime satellite orbit slots (filing) CAKRA-1 documents. The discussion involved the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, and the Director of the ITU Radio Communication Bureau, Mario Mankiewicz.
This demonstrates Indonesia’s high commitment to advancing the satellite industry and strengthening the telecommunications infrastructure that supports the national economy and security.
In the context of the digital transformation being carried out by Indonesia, support from international institutions such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is crucial. Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi stated this after a bilateral meeting with the ITU, where the ITU committed to continue assisting Indonesia in its digital transformation.
One form of support is in the filing of the CAKRA-1 satellite. This satellite will be used by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to monitor Indonesia’s maritime conditions. Indonesia hopes that the ITU can help accelerate the evaluation and publication process of the CAKRA-1 satellite.
Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi highlighted that CAKRA-1, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite, will serve diverse purposes, including aiding fishermen and fisheries. The Minister stressed the importance of maximising satellite technology advancements to bolster the growth of the national maritime sector.
“We are an archipelagic country; our seas are vast, so we need satellite-based communication facilities and infrastructure,” he said.
The maritime sector in Indonesia is one of the critical sectors in the country’s economy, with great potential coming from its vast maritime resources. The potential of Indonesia’s marine economy is estimated at US$1.34 trillion.
“In this context, the role of the maritime sector is very significant because it can be a major source of income. Indonesia’s marine economic potential of US$1.34 trillion is spread across 327 coastal districts/cities,” said Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries at Bappenas.
The latest data shows that through the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves), the government has set a target for the maritime sector’s economic contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2045.
“With the maritime axis programme, we target the economic role of the maritime sector to reach 12.5 % by 2045,” said Ayodhia GL Kaleke, Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination at Kemenko Marves.
In further discussion, the dialogue regarding satellite filing with the ITU is an administrative step required by ITU standard procedures to enable the launch and protection of the KKP satellite. The Ministry of Communication and Information is actively assisting in the launch of CAKRA-1, scheduled for June 2024. The CAKRA satellite will comprise several satellite units and will be technically discussed in the Ministry of Communication and Information’s meeting with the ITU.
