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With a capacity of up to 32Gbps, the Merah Putih 2 Satellite carries an active transponder consisting of C-band and Ku-band frequencies which will cover all regions of Indonesia which will be launched this month.

In line with the company's commitment to providing equitable access to information through reliable digital telecommunications infrastructure and services, PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom) through its subsidiary Telkomsat will launch a satellite with High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology on February 20. 2024. Florida or February 21 2024 Indonesian time. This satellite, which is Telkom's 11th satellite, will later occupy an orbital slot of 113 degrees East Longitude (113 East Longitude).
Telkom CEO Ririek Adriansyah said, "The Merah Putih 2 Satellite will be launched directly from Cape Canaveral, Florida using a Falcon 9 rocket. Currently the Merah Putih 2 Satellite is at Cape Canaveral and ready to be launched in the near future. .” he said as quoted from a Telkom press release.

With a capacity of up to 32Gbps, the Merah Putih 2 Satellite carries an active transponder consisting of C-band and Ku-band frequencies, which will cover all areas of Indonesia. Previously, Telkom launched the Merah Putih Satellite in 2018 with placement in orbit slot 108 East Longitude.

"The Merah Putih 2 Satellite is a hope and a manifestation of Telkom's commitment to support equal connectivity throughout Indonesia, complementing the land and sea infrastructure that we have. "Telkom believes that with equal access to information, it is hoped that it can accelerate the digitalization of society in various aspects," added Ririek.

Furthermore, Telkomsat Main Director Lukman Hakim Abd. Rauf said that the Merah Putih 2 Satellite relies on the Spacebus 4000B2 platform with a design age of 15 years. The construction itself involves Thales Alenia Space which is responsible for manufacturing satellites and SpaceX as a company providing satellite launch services. Both companies are big players in their sectors and have experience with previous Telkom satellite projects.

"The process of selecting partners and procuring satellites has been carried out in accordance with the principles of compliance and the principles of good corporate governance. "Apart from the business aspect, the partner selection process has also considered the lowest cost per Gbps, thereby producing satellites with larger capacities at competitive selling prices," added Lukman.

Even though the Merah Putih 2 Satellite has not yet been launched, the potential for the backhaul business targeted by this satellite is projected to be very positive. This can be seen from the enthusiasm of prospective corporate customers and VSAT operators who want to use this satellite service. Of course, this is an opportunity for Telkom, especially Telkomsat, to strengthen its satellite business portfolio.

"Not only does it carry a mission for national connectivity and bring a good name to Indonesia, hopefully the existence of the Merah Putih 2 Satellite can strengthen Telkomsat and TelkomGroup to become big players in the satellite industry in Indonesia," concluded Ririek.

IN