Technology billionaire Elon Musk (2nd from left) speaks next to Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (left) during the inauguration ceremony of the Starlink satellite unit at a community health center in Denpasar on the resort island Indonesia’s Bali on May 19, 2024. Musk launched on May 19 his Starlink service to be launched on the Indonesian resort island of Bali as the country aims to expand the Internet to regions remote areas. Millions of people in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, are currently not connected to reliable internet services. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP) (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Elon Musk has launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service in Indonesia as the Southeast Asian country seeks to boost internet connectivity in remote areas.
The inauguration took place at a community medical center in Bali on Sunday, with the SpaceX founder telling local media he was “very excited” to bring internet service to areas with limited connectivity or There is no connection and internet connection can be a “savior for everyone”. distant medical clinic.”
“It’s really important to emphasize the importance of Internet connectivity and how life-changing and life-saving it can be,” Musk said. local media on Sunday.
SpaceX, the company that manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft, is also the developer of Starlink satellites that provide Internet connectivity to remote locations. Starlink is available in Southeast Asia in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, faces an urban-rural connectivity gap, where millions of people living in rural areas have limited or no access to services. internet service.
Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi previously said Starlink will help Indonesia expand Internet access to areas where local Internet providers do not cover it. Indonesian news agency Antara.
The minister also tried to dispel fears that Starlink’s entry would harm local internet providers.
“When you have access to the Internet, you can learn anything,” said Musk, who is also the CEO of the electric car maker. Tesla. “But without an internet connection, it is very difficult to study.”
“And if you have goods and services you want to sell to the world, and even if you’re in a remote village, you can now do it with an internet connection. So you can bring more prosperity for [remote] community,” Musk said.
When asked if he plans to invest in Indonesia’s electric vehicle sector, Musk said he focuses on Starlink first.
“It is very likely that my companies will invest in Indonesia,” Musk said.
Indonesian Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said Musk is considering establishing an electric vehicle battery factory in the country, after the tech leader met President Joko Widodo on Monday, according to Reuters.
