Recently, Elon Musk officially announced the launch of his space company SpaceX's high-speed satellite internet service, Starlink, in Indonesia. During his visit to Indonesia, Musk stated that launching Starlink service would help millions of people in remote areas to access the internet. It is understood that the country's population of over 270 million is spread across three different time zones.

He said, "When you have internet access, you can learn anything."

On May 19, Starlink was launched at three medical centers in Indonesia, two located in Bali and one in Aru Island of the Maluku Islands. Musk mentioned, "This could be a lifeline for remote medical clinics, and I think it can also be used for education."

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reported that there are over 10,000 clinics nationwide, with about 2,700 still lacking internet access. Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordination, Luhut, stated in a declaration that Indonesia also hopes Starlink service could improve education and healthcare outcomes.

Furthermore, the Indonesian government has been striving for years to attract Tesla to establish manufacturing plants related to electric vehicles in the country, as the government aims to leverage the country's abundant nickel resources for developing the electric vehicle industry. When asked if there are plans to invest in Indonesia's electric vehicle industry as well, Musk stated that he is first focusing on Starlink.

He said, "We're concentrating on the benefits that Starlink and internet connectivity bring. I think emphasizing the importance of internet connectivity and how much it can save lives is really important." At the same time, Musk also hinted that his other companies might invest in Indonesia in the future, but did not provide further details.

Starlink is a significant player in the satellite internet field, accounting for about 60% of the global satellite count, with thousands of Starlink satellites using inter-satellite laser links to transmit data at the speed of light in space, enabling global network coverage.

Reportedly, Starlink satellites maintain low Earth orbit, allowing them to provide faster internet service than some local internet service providers to more locations. Currently, Starlink has over 2.6 million users worldwide.

Indonesia is the third Southeast Asian country where Starlink has begun operations. Last year, Malaysia issued a license to the company to provide internet services, while a company in the Philippines signed an agreement with SpaceX in 2022. Starlink is also widely used in Ukraine, including by military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.