Indonesia Studies Direct-to-Device Satellite Internet, Seeks Public Input on Policy Framework

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SRAGEN, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has begun an early-stage review of direct-to-device satellite internet, a technology that allows smartphones to connect directly to satellites without relying on terrestrial towers. Officials said the study remains in its preliminary phase, with the government still gathering input from various stakeholders.

Director General of Digital Infrastructure at the ministry, Wayan Toni, said the direct-to-device, or D2D, system relies on non-terrestrial network (NTN) frequencies and is still being examined for feasibility.

“This direct-to-device plan is still at the study stage and will later be presented to the International Telecommunication Union. There is a 2.1 GHz frequency band, and there is the NTN technology. But for now, it’s only a study. Nothing is final yet,” Wayan said on Friday, Nov 5, 2025, in Sragen.

He declined to provide further details, noting that the ministry is still in the process of conducting a public consultation, a mechanism that allows industries, academics, and the general public to submit feedback before a new regulation or policy is finalized.

“We cannot comment further because we are still receiving inputs,” he added.

The consultation is part of the ministry’s effort to evaluate the potential adoption of D2D satellite technology in Indonesia. Through this process, the government aims to assess opportunities and challenges—ranging from spectrum allocation and technology readiness to market interest and cost implications—before drafting an official regulatory framework.

Experts believe D2D technology could play a transformative role in bridging Indonesia’s digital divide, especially in remote, border, and maritime regions that remain underserved by terrestrial networks. By allowing ordinary mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, D2D systems could expand coverage without the need for new towers or ground infrastructure.

The initiative aligns with Indonesia’s digital transformation roadmap, which emphasizes inclusive access to broadband connectivity nationwide. The D2D-NTN study is also part of the ministry’s 2025–2029 strategic plan, supporting the goals of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the long-term Indonesia Emas 2045 vision.

The ministry expects the results of the public consultation to guide future policy decisions and ensure that any D2D deployment supports sustainable, inclusive digital growth while complementing the country’s existing fiber-optic and 5G networks.

United States' Experience

The technology under review in Indonesia is part of a global race to deliver connectivity directly from satellites to ordinary mobile phones. Starlink, the satellite broadband network built by SpaceX, brands its service as "Direct to Cell" and positions it as a way to eliminate mobile dead zones by allowing standard 4G LTE phones to connect straight to satellites, without special handsets or external antennas.

According to the company's technical documentation, the system uses satellites equipped with eNodeB base stations in orbit, is designed to be compatible with 3GPP Release 10 or newer devices, and aims to support messaging first, followed by voice and data as capacity expands. 

One year after the first Direct to Cell satellites were launched, Starlink announced that its satellite-to-phone messaging service had gone live in the United States and New Zealand, with additional markets expected to follow.

The company also said it had more than 650 satellites dedicated to this direct-to-cell constellation as part of a broader network of thousands of spacecraft in low Earth orbit.Starlink+1

Regulators in the United States have played a key role in setting the early rules for this type of service. In late 2024, the Federal Communications Commission granted SpaceX and mobile operator T-Mobile a groundbreaking license to offer supplemental coverage from space, allowing Starlink satellites to use terrestrial spectrum to reach standard mobile phones in areas without tower coverage.

The decision, widely regarded as the first of its kind, came with strict conditions on interference management and power levels, and full approval for higher-power operations followed in 2025 after additional technical scrutiny. 

The United States experience is closely watched by countries like Indonesia as they weigh whether, and how, to open their own markets to satellite-to-phone services. By studying global precedents such as the Starlink and T-Mobile partnership, Indonesian regulators can anticipate issues around cross-border interference, coordination with existing mobile license holders, emergency communications, and obligations to provide service in remote or disaster-prone regions.