BRIN Encourages National Navigation Satellite Development
JAKARTA Currently, navigation data is a basic need for many countries, including in Indonesia. However, in fact, Indonesia still relies on other countries' navigation satellite systems.
This was highlighted by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) when holding the 2025 Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Workshop. This event was held with the University of Indonesia (UI) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
Director of the Secretariat of the Indonesian Space Agency (INASA) BRIN Erna Sri Adiningsih called this navigation satellite a 'silent technology'. Although not visible, this technology supports almost all location-based and time-based activities.
"When we use Google Maps, look for addresses, view directions or positions, all rely on data from navigation satellites," Erna said, quoted on Tuesday, November 18 via the official BRIN website.
In addition to supporting the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite navigation services also support global timing synchronization, flight systems, and drone operations. With the magnitude of the need to support, the impact of interference on navigation systems will also be large.
Erna stressed that interference with navigation systems will have a direct impact on public activity and communication. If satellite operators stop operating, most of the communication functions and location determination will stall.
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To date, few countries in the world operate satellite navigation systems independently, such as China's US and Beidou GPS. Therefore, BRIN held this workshop to discuss the potential development of a local satellite navigation system.
According to Erna, Indonesia is at an important point to increase capacity in the field of navigation satellites. Even though Indonesia has been able to build micro-satellite and communication, navigational technology still requires a different system of mastery.
Indonesia should not only be a market. In the future, we must also be a satellite service manufacturer and have our own satellite industry," said Erna. "With the increasing human dependence on satellite data, Indonesia must start building."