Jakarta, INTI - PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) launched the Nusantara Lima satellite to enhance Indonesia’s national digital connectivity. Initially, the satellite was scheduled to be ready for orbit on Wednesday, September 10 2025, in Orlando time, or Thursday, September 11 2025, in Indonesia. However, up to 30 seconds before the final countdown, hopes of seeing Indonesia’s advanced communication satellite take off were delayed once again.
Cutting Edge Technology and Massive Capacity
Despite the delay, PSN assured that the satellite remains ready for launch with state of the art specifications. Built by Boeing on the Boeing 702MP platform, Nusantara Lima weighs approximately 7.8 tons and offers a capacity of up to 160 Gbps, making it the largest capacity satellite in Asia today.
Equipped with Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) technology, XIPS Electrical Thruster, and Gen 7 Channelizer, the satellite also features solar panels from Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, capable of generating up to 15 kW to support full operations throughout its 15 year mission.
With the support of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, PSN has prepared seven ground stations across strategic locations in Indonesia, including Cikarang, Banjarmasin, Aceh, Bengkulu, Gresik, Kupang, and Tarakan, ensuring smooth communication services across the archipelago.
“From Banda Aceh to Papua, from major cities to small islands, this signal will strive to reach everywhere,” PSN wrote in their official blog, cited Monday (09/08).
According to Bisnis Indonesia, PSN will allocate 14 Gbps of capacity to the Philippines, 8 Gbps to Malaysia, and the majority will be used domestically for various commercial purposes, including telecommunications, banking, and seismological surveys.
Future Prospects
The satellite is also equipped with payload processing technology, capable of directing internet and communication capacity to areas with the highest demand, whether in urban centers, remote villages, or disaster-affected regions. With this capability, the satellite is expected to support Indonesia Digital 2045 by providing connectivity to Frontier, Outermost, and Disadvantaged (3T) areas, particularly in Eastern Indonesia.
“With the arrival of Nusantara 5, it also becomes a driving force for Indonesia Digital 2045,” said Wayan Toni Supriyanto, Director General of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), during the Nusantara Lima Welcome Dinner in Florida, Sunday (09/07), as reported by Ototekno Harian Jogja.
After launch and orbital checks, Nusantara Lima is scheduled to begin commercial operations from a geostationary orbit at 35,000 kilometers above Earth in 2026.
Repeated Delays
This delay marks the third postponement since the initial launch plan on Wednesday, September 8 2025, at 20:30 Florida time, or Tuesday, September 9 2025, at 09:02 WIB.
The second launch attempt was also postponed due to the same factor weather conditions. Satrio Adiwicaksono, Project Director of Nusantara Lima, explained that this delay is a continuation of a previous incident where the satellite launch was aborted 30 seconds before liftoff.
“After the scrub [launch failure on September 9, Florida time], there were concerns with the rocket, which SpaceX is currently verifying. However, they requested an extension of 24 hours for the verification process,” Adi said in Florida.
SpaceX stated that after a thorough inspection, the launch is rescheduled for Friday, September 12, 2025, in the morning Indonesia time.
“They initially expected the checks to take about 6 hours, but due to weather and other factors, it required more time,” he added.
Conclusion
Nusantara Lima marks a significant milestone in Indonesia’s ambition to strengthen digital access nationally and regionally. Despite delays caused by weather and technical issues, its technological readiness and infrastructure support remain robust. All eyes are now on the next moment when the satellite finally takes off and realizes the vision of equitable connectivity and a digital future for the nation.
Read More: Startup TERASi Unveils RU1, Starlink New Rival in Network Infrastructure
Author: kh