Badung, Bali (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace company SpaceX, are going to inaugurate the broadband services of the company's satellite constellation Starlink in Bali province on Sunday (May 19, 2024).
Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the Internet services will be launched on Sunday, coinciding with the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), which will take place in the province from May 18–25.
"The President, together with Elon Musk, will launch Starlink in the hopes of facilitating communication in remote areas. The launch will take place on Sunday," he informed after attending a technical meeting of the National Police (Polri) in Badung district, Bali, on Tuesday.
Pandjaitan confirmed that Musk will come to Bali and deliver a speech during this year's WWF.
"Elon Musk will be invited to speak at the opening of the 10th World Water Forum," he revealed.
The minister further said that all agendas and venues of the World Water Forum have been fixed.
"(Preparations for) the activities have been running well. The President will come, and all events have been well-prepared. The groundbreaking for the International Mangrove Research Center of Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates will take place in Bali's Kura-Kura (special economic zone)," he informed.
Regarding Starlink, Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi earlier said that the satellite-powered Internet provider would help Indonesia broaden Internet access to regions uncovered by local Internet providers on account of geographical factors.
"On one hand, we are aiming to boost the Internet speed. On the other hand, we are striving to achieve equitable distribution (of Internet access) since we still find it difficult to connect remote regions (to the Internet)," he explained.
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The minister underlined that Starlink has obtained the license to operate as a telecommunications provider in the country.
He also affirmed that the presence of Starlink would not hurt local Internet providers.
