Soemadipradja & Taher (S&T) is delighted to announce the successful launch of a major telecommunications project in Indonesia by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), for which S&T provided practical legal support, including:

• establishing an Indonesian subsidiary, PT Starlink Services Indonesia (Starlink Indonesia);
• assisting Starlink Indonesia to obtain the necessary licenses to engage in satellite-based internet service in Indonesia; and
• assisting Starlink Indonesia to draft and submit its activities reports.

Our team provided legal guidance and assistance throughout the process, that resulted in Starlink Indonesia being able to achieve commercial operations across Indonesia.

On 19 May 2024 in Bali, SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, officially launched Starlink Indonesia’s internet services. This momentous event was attended by the Health Minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the Communications and Informatics Minister, Budi Arie Setiadi, and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. At this event, the Health Minister confirmed that Starlink Indonesia will serve over 2,200 community health centers across Indonesia, which did not have any internet access or had limited access.

SpaceX provides internet coverage to over 99 countries, delivering high-speed internet access to users across the globe. According to SpaceX, underserved remote and rural regions are a particular focus. One of SpaceX’s reported goals is to provide an extensive lower-earth orbit satellite network that offers faster internet speeds to users, compared to traditional satellite internet providers.

The successful launch of this project demonstrates S&T's commitment to assisting international businesses achieve their goals by offering clear guidance on Indonesia’s complex regulatory requirements and interfacing with regulators. Our team’s insights into foreign investment and sector-specific regulations enable us to deliver comprehensive and strategic advice to our clients.

Led by Partner Rahmat Soemadipradja and supported by Associate Partner Aziizah Soerjadi, Senior Associates Krishna Vesa and Vinton R. Taris, and Associates Aveninta Maria R., Tjok I. D.Wulandevi, and Sahda Edgina N., S&T is honoured to have facilitated SpaceX to now be able to offer its internet services in Indonesia through Starlink Indonesia. One of the anticipated outcomes of this project is the development of rural and remote areas that did not have any internet access or had limited access before Starlink Indonesia became operational.

We are proud to be part of another historic milestone in Indonesia's rapidly developing advances in technology and the internet.