Minister of Health Wants to Use Starlink for Puskesmas Internet Access, APJII: Satria-1 Still Sufficient

Chairman of APJII, Muhammad Arif Angga (photo: Dinda Buana/VOI)

JAKARTA - Not long ago, the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said it was possible to collaborate with Elon Musk to use the Starlink satellite as an internet access provider for Community Health Centers in underdeveloped, frontier and outermost (3T) areas.

Responding to this, the General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Internet Network Providers (APJII), Muhammad Arif Angga, admitted that he wanted to discuss with the Ministry of Health. According to him, satellites from Indonesia are still sufficient to provide internet access at Puskesmas.

However, Arif added that APJII and the Minister of Health did not have the right time to discuss this. Nevertheless, APJII has also sent a letter to the Minister of Health.

"Actually, our goal is just to update him. I'm actually happier, why is the government opening up permits (internet service provision) now and then, if at the end of the day we ask for help from abroad, isn't this funny," Arif said to the media after the APJII 6th event Annual Golf Tournament 2023 on Saturday, August 26 in Jakarta.

According to Arif, apart from Indonesia, there are more than 900 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that are ready to be used. Apart from that, Indonesia also has its own satellites such as BRIsat and Satria-1.

"These two alone have quite a large capacity, especially if they only serve public facilities such as the Post Office Health Center, that's all. Even as far as I know Satria-1, if it has launched to its maximum, it is actually still over capacity," said Arif further.

Arif was also surprised by the decision made by the Minister of Health. He even hoped that the information was just a miscommunication.

"So I'm funny that there is that information, I hope it's just a miss update from him. So, I hope we can update it, even the government can update it," he added.

"Because in fact there is still enough capacity, assisted by almost 1,000 ISP friends. What's more, if it only reaches the district, sub-district level, it's certain that they are there. So, there's no need to go all the way to Elon Musk for help. I think," said Arif.