Elon Musk arrives in Indonesia’s Bali to launch Starlink satellite internet service
Associated PressMAY 16 2024
Musk Launches Starlink in Indonesia
Elon Musk Launches Starlink in Indonesia, Meets With President
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The Facts
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk was in Indonesia Sunday as he and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite services in the Southeast country.
Musk, wearing a green Batik shirt, launched the Starlink satellite with several Indonesian ministers during a ceremony at a community health clinic in Bali. He noted the importance of bringing connectivity to areas that have been relatively remote.
With more than 17K islands, many parts of Indonesia are rural with little-to-no internet access, and Musk believes that SpaceX’s satellites can save lives and increase development by extending internet connection, especially to hospitals and schools.Musk, wearing a green Batik shirt, made the declaration with several Indonesian ministers during a ceremony at a community health clinic in Bali. He noted the importance of bringing connectivity to areas that have been relatively remote.
The Spin
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite will bring internet service to millions of Indonesians who were previously isolated. It is difficult to overstate the impact of providing connectivity to remote areas, and Elon Musk could end up saving thousands, if not millions, of lives, by giving internet access to hospitals and clinics across Indonesia. Sunday’s launch was a momentous occasion that will improve the quality of lives for millions of people and catapult Indonesia’s economy.
The long term implications of Starlink’s launch remain unknown, but it seems like the immediate impact is just a new internet satellite that costs twice as much as alternatives. Consumer costs of Starlink internet are currently double most providers, and it's hard to envision how such an expensive service can be brought to remote areas that didn’t have internet access at all. The government is hopeful about Starlink, but let’s wait before celebrating its launch in Indonesia.