Indonesia launches largest internet satellite in SE region

Indonesia’s Nusantara Lima satellite, with a capacity of 160 Gbps, has become the largest communications satellite in Southeast Asia.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia successfully launched the Nusantara Lima (N5) satellite on September 10, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, the United States, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

“Nusantara Lima is a bridge that connects Indonesia without boundaries. Fast internet is not only about technology, but also about equal opportunity,” Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said in a written statement quoted from the ministry’s official website on Saturday.

She continued, “Children in Maluku and Papua (provinces) will have the same access to learning as those in Jakarta, patients in remote islands can consult with the best doctors, and our small businesses can compete in the digital world. This is the true meaning of digital equity”.

Meutya added that the launch of N5 aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive, which since the beginning of his administration has emphasized the importance of technological independence and sovereignty.

“Digital transformation is a strategic program to ensure that all Indonesians can equally benefit from national development,” she said.

With its 160 Gbps capacity, N5 becomes the largest communications satellite in Southeast Asia. It will occupy a strategic orbital slot at 113° East Longitude—known as the ‘golden spot’—covering the entire Indonesian archipelago and strengthening connectivity in the eastern regions.

The presence of N5 is expected to expand access for distance learning, digital healthcare services, online-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as entertainment and other information services for people in remote areas that have long struggled with limited telecommunications and information accesses.

N5 is owned by PT Satelit Nusantara Lima (SNL), a subsidiary of PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), through a global collaboration with Boeing Satellite Systems, Hughes Network Systems, and SpaceX.

The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, has ensured orbital registration while safeguarding national sovereignty in managing the satellite.

N5 marks a new milestone following the launches of Palapa A1 in 1976, Nusantara Satu in 2019, and SATRIA-1 in 2023.

With N5, not only does Indonesia reaffirm its position as a consumer, but also as an administrator of satellite technology, delivering direct benefits for people, while strengthening its role as a hub of digital connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Reporting by Indonesia Window