Heaptalk, Jakarta — The successful internet trial at Nusantara Capital (IKN) in May was just one of the crucial steps Kominfo required for Elon Musk’s Starlink to enter Indonesia.
“One of the regulations for operating in Indonesia is that Starlink must obtain a telecommunications service provider permit. Before obtaining this permit, they must fulfill the operational feasibility test (ULO) carried out by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo),” said the Ministry in a press release on Thursday morning (04/18).
According to Kominfo, the requirements for passing ULO are that Starlink must have a NOC, server, hub, network monitoring system (NMS), remote, earth station, autonomous system (AS) number, IP number, and cooperation with NAP organizers. “Until now, Starlink has not been able to fulfill several requirements to obtain a permit to provide telecommunications services,” said Kominfo.
Agung Harsoyo, commissioner of the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (BRTI) for the 2018-2021 period, supports and appreciates Kominfo’s steps to continue implementing consistent regulations for all parties who wish to apply for a telecommunications service provider license in Indonesia without exception, including when Starlink applied for a telecommunications service provider permit.
According to Agung, Kominfo’s steps are designed to ensure Starlink meets all requirements for applying for a telecommunications service provider license. Kominfo does not makeup all the requirements requested before implementing ULO. All requirements requested before a ULO is carried out are solely to protect the public, protect Indonesia’s national interests, and protect the telecommunications industry.
In fact, if one of the requirements before the ULO is not fulfilled and the license to provide telecommunications services is granted, Kominfo will neglect the regulation and sacrifice the interests of society, industry, and the state in the future. Without a NOC, server, hub, NMS, remote, earth station, Autonomous System (AS) Number, and IP Number in Indonesia and without cooperation with NAP organizers, Indonesian law enforcement cannot prosecute criminals who use Starlink services.
“The existence of the NOC and NMS in Indonesia (not only as dummies) will support legal intercept. Hence, the data does not go directly to the Starlink NOC in America. Apart from that, without fulfilling the requirements before the ULO, protection for consumers in Indonesia can be achieved,” Agung concluded.
