Media Wire Express Correspondent
Elon Musk arrived on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Sunday to launch Starlink satellite internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation. The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of social platform X, landed by private jet on the “island of the gods,” famous for its tropical beaches, terraced rice paddies, mystical temples, and vibrant spiritual offerings.
Musk is set to inaugurate the service alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a ceremony at a public health clinic in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. Additionally, Musk will sign an agreement to enhance connectivity in Indonesia’s health and education sectors, according to Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who welcomed Musk at the airport.
Pandjaitan, a close ally of Widodo, did not provide further details about the agreement between the Indonesian government and SpaceX, the aerospace company operating Starlink services. He stated that launching the service at a health clinic aligns with Starlink’s mission to provide affordable high-speed internet access, particularly in underserved and remote regions.
Indonesia, with its 17,000 islands spread across three time zones and a population of over 270 million, faces significant connectivity challenges. “Our remote regions need Starlink to expand high-speed internet services, especially to address issues in the health, education, and maritime sectors,” Pandjaitan told reporters ahead of the Denpasar ceremony.
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Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi noted that local internet providers, which rely on base transceiver stations to transmit signals, struggle to reach the outer islands due to limited coverage. Starlink’s low-orbit satellites will enable faster internet speeds and nationwide coverage, helping to bridge this gap.
During his first in-person visit to Bali, Musk is also scheduled to participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which aims to tackle global water and sanitation challenges. Musk previously spoke at the B-20 business forum in 2022, ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Bali, joining the conference by video link shortly after acquiring Twitter.
Musk’s visit follows recent high-profile meetings between Indonesian officials and tech leaders. Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Widodo on April 17, expressing interest in manufacturing in Indonesia, while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced on April 30 that the company would invest $1.7 billion over the next four years in new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in the country.
Under Widodo’s leadership, Indonesia has focused on developing its digital technology and information sectors, aiming to achieve the government’s Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision. This vision aspires to position Indonesia among the world’s top five economies, with a GDP of up to $9 trillion, by the centennial of its independence from Dutch colonial rule.
