JAKARTA. PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo) confirmed that the investment value of total IDR 3.5 trillion for Satelit Merah Putih 2 will be fully covered by the company.

"The insurance coverage value is worth approximately that," said Brellian Gema Widayana, Corporate Secretary of Jasindo, today (23/2).

Jasindo becomes the risk management partner of Telkom Indonesia for covering the risks of Telkomsat's Satelit Merah Putih 2 risks. The covered risks include launch and in-orbit risks.

Lukman Hakim Abd. Rauf, President Director of PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia (Telkomsat), on a separate occasion, mentioned that the total investment spent for the construction of earth station clocked up to IDR 3.5 trillion. The satellite has been built since late 2021.

"The most significant customers are VSAT operators. So, until now, we have quite a lot of VSAT operators that state their willingness to be our customers, and there have been 5 of them, whose names, in time, will be announced to the media, and which have been willing to be contracted in the near future," added Abd. Rauf after the launch from Cape Canaveral, the US, last Wednesday (21/2).

According to Abd. Rauf, the biggest opportunity for this satellite, equipped with High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology that supports broadband, lies in telecommunication users on the ocean, especially within 15-kilometres range from the shoreline. Telkomsat also aims to secure users from mining areas and borders of Indonesia that are deemed uneconomical to have home wireless internet or fibre optic network installed.

Abd. Rauf further mentioned that Satelit Merah Putih is scheduled to enter the orbit on March 3, 2024. Next, there will be installment of solar panel and connection earth station system. It is targeted to be operated in April 2024. 

Ririek Adriansyah, President Director of TLKM, said that this satellite will be the third operating unit. Different from 2 other existing satellites, the technology of Satelit Merah Putih 2 will be focused for broadband.

"This is the 11th satellite owned by Telkom. However, it is the first one using broadband, which will enhance broadband connectivity in Indonesia, especially in isolated regions, including the ocean," Adriansyah added.

Satelit Merah Putih 2, filling the orbit slot of 113 degree East Longitude, will be positioned above Kalimantan. The satellite will cover a third of the earth, but Telkom said that it will be focused on covering all regions of Indonesia.

Adriansyah said that the company will review Telkomsat's business development first. The step must be carried out before deciding to develop another satellite in the future.

It is also mentioned that, at the same time, Telkomsat also signs an agreement with a satellite operator that launches Satelit Merah Putih 2B. The satellite, authorised by another country, will have its entire capacity managed by Telkomsat. Although mentioning offering partner for managing capacity of Satelit Merah Putih 2B, he did not disclose the detail regarding the capacity of the satellite, including the business value potentially secured by Telkomsat. (PP/ZH)