Boeing-built satellite to advance connectivity across Indonesia

Indonesian private satellite company PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) successfully launched the Nusantara Lima (N5) satellite into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 11 September local time, after three launch delays due to unfavourable weather. The N5 is a 160 Gbps satellite — understood to be the largest in Asia — capable of providing internet access throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including the Philippines and Malaysia.

PSN provides high-speed broadband internet via satellite that connects people throughout Indonesia who are not connected by terrestrial networks, with the hope that the internet can be enjoyed anywhere in the country. The N5 was built for the company by Boeing on behalf of Indonesian satellite service provider Satelit Nusantara Lima (SNL), and has been designed to support broadband internet access and essential communications services throughout Indonesia and South-East Asian markets.

“Indonesia was one of the first nations to adopt satellite communications to connect its citizens, and Nusantara Lima continues that legacy,” said Adi Rahman Adiwoso, CEO of PSN Group. “This satellite will empower communities, schools and businesses that have never had reliable access before.”

The satellite’s advanced payload processing allows PSN to dynamically direct its powerful internet and communications capacity to where it’s needed most, whether that’s a busy city, a remote village or in rapid response to an area affected by a natural disaster. For Indonesians, this should mean faster and more reliable connectivity, even as demand shifts across the country’s thousands of islands.

“Boeing’s satellite business has a rich history of serving Indonesia and the Asia–Pacific region, dating back to the Palapa A1 satellite in 1976,” said Ryan Reid, President of Boeing Satellite Systems International. “With Nusantara Lima, we’re proud to continue that legacy, delivering a reliable, high-throughput solution tailored to Indonesia’s unique geography and connectivity needs.”

The satellite’s solar wings, built by Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab, will meanwhile deliver up to 15 kW of power to enable its advanced payload to operate at full capacity throughout its 15-year mission. Spectrolab has been investing in factory enhancements to ramp throughput as demand for reliable, space-grade solar cells increases across the industry.

The N5 satellite will spend 4–5 months in space before eventually occupying an orbital slot at 113 degrees east longitude. PSN will then conduct three weeks of in-orbit testing, followed by an in-orbit acceptance review of ground infrastructure. The satellite is expected to commence commercial operation in early 2026.

Image caption: On-orbit render of the Satelit Nusantara Lima (SNL) satellite overlooking the Indonesian archipelago. Image credit: Boeing.