Telkom 3S Satellite to Launch Soon

Telkom 3S satellite is scheduled to launch on February 15, 2017, from the Guyana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana. This satellite replaces Telkom 3, which failed to reach orbit in 2012. Costing approximately US$250 million, the satellite boasts 49 transponders with a 15-year lifespan. Owned by PT Telkom, it is dedicated to high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasting, GSM networks, and internet services.

Currently, Indonesia faces a shortage of approximately 100 satellite transponders for both national communication and broadcasting. To meet this demand, Indonesia relies on foreign satellites. As a result, over 30 foreign satellites operate within Indonesian territory.

Applications for satellite landing rights from other countries in Indonesia reached 31 in the first half of 2016. This figure is double the number of applications received in the first half of 2015 and equals the total number of applications received throughout the entire year of 2015. The high demand for foreign satellite landing rights indicates the significant utilization of satellite technology by the Indonesian public, for both broadcasting and communication networks.