Transponder Shortages Lead Indonesia to Rely Heavily on Foreign Satellites

Indonesia currently faces a shortage of satellite transponders. The high cost of satellite manufacturing and the increasing demand for telecommunication services for both communication and broadcasting purposes necessitate Indonesia's reliance on foreign satellite transponders.

Up to the first half of 2016, the number of foreign satellite transponders in Indonesia reached 74 units. Of this number, the majority (34 transponders) belonged to China. The United States and Malaysia followed with 11 transponders each.

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia is scheduled to launch the Telkom 3S satellite on February 15, 2017. This satellite will replace Telkom 3, which failed to reach orbit in 2012. Telkom 3S is a geostationary communication satellite positioned above the equator to cover the entire Indonesian archipelago. Owned by Telkom, this satellite is designed to provide high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts, cellular communication services, and broadband internet access, and boasts 49 transponders.