Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) said it will revoke Starlink’s operating license if the company is found to be selling or operating roaming devices for mobile internet access in the country.

Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by SpaceX, is only allowed to provide fixed residential connections in Indonesia, according to Wayan Toni Supriyanto, director general of digital infrastructure.

The government allows Starlink to provide mobile internet on ships for up to seven days, but not in vehicles such as cars.

Officials said Starlink’s local provider, Starlink Services Indonesia, is currently compliant with regulations and operates using the E-Band frequency spectrum.

The ministry previously suspended new customer registrations for Starlink before reinstating them after renewing licensing procedures.

Starlink service for new customers in Indonesia resumed on July 23, 2025, after a temporary halt.

The government said all internet providers, including Starlink, must follow local rules to ensure fair competition.

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🔗 Source: Bisnis Tekno

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indonesia’s mobile usage ban reveals how countries localize global satellite services

Indonesia’s restriction of Starlink to fixed residential use only contrasts sharply with the service’s global positioning as a mobile-capable internet solution.

Starlink markets itself internationally as designed to “connect users at home or on the go,” emphasizing mobility and accessibility as core features1. However, Indonesia explicitly prohibits this mobile functionality, allowing roaming only on ships for up to seven days.

This regulatory approach reflects how countries adapt global technology services to fit local policy priorities and existing market structures.

The restriction appears designed to protect Indonesia’s existing telecommunications infrastructure, particularly mobile networks that serve the country’s 270 million citizens across more than 17,000 islands2.

By limiting Starlink to fixed residential use, Indonesian regulators maintain clearer boundaries between satellite internet and traditional mobile services, preventing potential disruption to established telecom operators who have invested heavily in terrestrial infrastructure.

2️⃣ Tech sovereignty drives Indonesia’s “local operator” treatment of foreign satellite services

Indonesia’s insistence on treating Starlink Services Indonesia like any other domestic telecom provider demonstrates how countries assert regulatory control over global technology platforms.

Despite Starlink operating through SpaceX’s constellation of thousands of satellites, Indonesian officials emphasize that “Starlink Services Indonesia is the local operator” and must follow the same rules as other internet providers in the country.

This approach ensures regulatory parity in a market projected to reach 420 million mobile and broadband subscribers by 20313.

The government’s “level playing field” requirement extends beyond simple licensing to operational restrictions, forcing even satellite-based services to conform to Indonesia’s telecommunications framework.

This regulatory control becomes particularly important given that over 60 million Indonesians still lack stable internet access4, making satellite services a potentially transformative but also potentially disruptive force in the domestic telecommunications landscape.

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