Jakarta, INTI - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is facilitating cooperation between satellite internet providers Telkomsat and Starlink to help Yogi Gilang Arya establish a legally authorized internet service in Sikakap Village, Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said the initiative is intended to provide a solution to Yogi’s ongoing legal case, in which he has been charged with allegedly operating telecommunications services without the required authorization after selling Starlink internet packages without official permission in his village.
“We have held fairly advanced discussions with Telkomsat and Starlink. Both have agreed to provide guidance to Yogi so that he can eventually operate as an officially licensed reseller. This demonstrates that Komdigi continues to seek solutions to challenges faced by communities,” Meutya said in a brief interview at the Komdigi Ministry office in Central Jakarta on Saturday.
Komdigi Facilitates Legal Internet Access in Mentawai
Meutya explained that internet services in the Mentawai Islands are already available through 4G cellular networks supported by Base Transceiver Station (BTS) infrastructure. However, the region has yet to be connected to a fiber-optic backbone.
As a result, the quality and stability of mobile internet services in the area remain less optimal compared with regions supported by fiber-optic connectivity.
Satellite-based internet services, including those provided by Starlink and Telkomsat, could therefore serve as an alternative solution to improve connectivity in remote areas such as the Mentawai Islands.
Balancing Connectivity Needs and Telecommunications Regulations
“However, Komdigi looks at this issue from two perspectives,” Meutya said during a separate statement at the Solo Press Monument in Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday.
She explained that the situation involves both the provision of telecommunications services without the necessary authorization and the local community’s need for reliable internet access, particularly because Sikakap Village has not yet been connected to a fiber-optic network.
“There is a clear need for reliable internet services, but at the same time, there is a service that has not yet obtained the required authorization,” she said.
Komdigi is prioritizing a guidance-based approach, with the aim of enabling Yogi to legally provide internet services in the future through an officially authorized reseller scheme.
“In our view, in line with the spirit of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), guidance and corrective measures should be prioritized, while criminal proceedings should be considered a last resort. That is generally the approach we take,” Meutya said.
Yogi’s case remains under consideration at the Padang District Court under case number 450/Pid.Sus/2026/PN Pdg. The court has not yet issued a final ruling.
Conclusion
The cooperation facilitated by Komdigi between Telkomsat and Starlink highlights the government’s effort to balance telecommunications regulations with the need for reliable internet access in remote areas. By helping Yogi transition into an officially authorized reseller, the initiative could provide a practical solution that addresses both regulatory requirements and the connectivity needs of the Mentawai community. The case also underscores the importance of strengthening digital infrastructure and expanding legal, reliable, and sustainable internet access to underserved regions across Indonesia.
Read more: APJATEL and Komdigi Strengthen Collaboration to Enhance Telecommunications Quality and Coverage