Elon Musk and Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin launched SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, to improve healthcare access in remote areas of Indonesia. The event took place on Sunday at a community health center in Denpasar, Bali.
Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, arrived in Bali by private jet and attended the ceremony wearing a green batik shirt. He emphasized that Starlink would help millions in Indonesia, which has a population of over 270 million spread across three time zones, gain internet access.
“I’m very excited to bring connectivity to places that have low connectivity,” Musk said. “If you have access to the internet, you can learn anything.”
Starlink was launched at three Indonesian health centers, two in Bali and one on the remote island of Aru in Maluku. A video presentation showed how high-speed internet could help tackle health issues like stunting and malnutrition through real-time data input.
When asked about potential investments in Indonesia’s electric vehicle industry, Musk said his current focus is on Starlink. “We are focusing this event on Starlink and the benefits that connectivity brings to remote islands,” he said. “Internet connectivity can be a lifesaver.”
Indonesia has been trying to attract Tesla to build electric vehicle manufacturing plants, leveraging the country’s rich nickel resources. Musk is scheduled to meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday and will also address the World Water Forum in Bali.
Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, who also attended the launch, said Starlink is now available commercially. However, the government will prioritize services for outer and underdeveloped regions. Before the launch, Starlink obtained a permit to operate as an internet service provider for retail consumers and received a very small aperture terminal permit.
SpaceX’s Starlink, which owns about 60% of the roughly 7,500 satellites orbiting Earth, dominates the satellite internet market. Indonesia is the third Southeast Asian country to welcome Starlink. Malaysia issued the company a license last year, and a Philippine firm signed a deal with SpaceX in 2022. Starlink is also widely used in Ukraine by the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.
