Musk arrives in Indonesia’s Bali for planned Starlink launch

Elon Musk arrived on the Indonesian island of Bali on Sunday, ahead of the highly anticipated launch of SpaceX’s Starlink internet service. The Indonesian government aims to use Starlink to enhance internet connectivity and health services in the country’s remote regions.

Indonesia’s chief investment minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, welcomed Musk at Bali’s airport. He shared on Instagram that they would discuss significant collaborations, including the Starlink launch.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA.O), will join Indonesian President Joko Widodo for the Starlink inauguration at a community health center in Denpasar, Bali’s capital, on Sunday afternoon. The initiative aims to provide equal internet access across Indonesia, benefiting over 270 million people in remote and urban areas alike.

About the launch:.

Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi confirmed last week that Starlink has received the necessary permits to operate in Indonesia, including a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) permit, allowing it to function as an internet service provider for retail consumers.

Indonesia will be the third Southeast Asian country to host Starlink, following Malaysia and the Philippines. Starlink has also been instrumental in Ukraine, supporting the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations. Recently, Ukraine requested SpaceX’s assistance to prevent Russian forces from using Starlink terminals for communication in occupied areas.