Indonesia: Elon Musk has launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet services in Indonesia to improve internet access in rural areas.
The SpaceX founder told local reporters during the ceremony on Sunday that he was “very excited” to deliver internet services to places with little to no connectivity and that internet connectivity can be “a life-saver to remote medical clinics.” The event was held at a community health facility in Bali.
“It is really important to emphasize the importance of internet connectivity and how much of a life-changer and a life-saver it can be,” Musk told local media.
In addition to developing and launching cutting-edge rockets and spacecraft, SpaceX also develops Starlink satellites, which offer internet access to remote areas. Starlink is already accessible in Malaysia and the Philippines in Southeast Asia.
With over 17,000 islands making up the biggest archipelago in the world, millions of people in rural Indonesia lack access to internet services, making it a case of an urban-rural connection divide.
According to Indonesian news agency Antara, Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi previously stated that Starlink would assist Indonesia in expanding internet access to areas not served by local internet providers.
The minister also made an effort to allay worries that local internet providers might suffer as a result of Starlink’s arrival.
“When you have access to the internet, you can learn anything. But if you don’t have internet connectivity, it is very difficult to learn.” said Musk, who is also the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla
“And if you have goods and services you wish to sell to the world, and even if you are in a remote village, you can now do so with internet connection. So you can bring a lot of prosperity to [remote] communities,” observed Musk.
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