In a statement from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the CEO of Telkom, Ririek Adriansyah, emphasized that the presence of Red and White 2 satellite is the foundation that reinforces Telkom Group's business portfolio in the satellite industry, which is run by Telkomsat. With a capacity of up to 32 Gbps, this high-throughput satellite (HTS) will provide active transponders with frequencies in C-band and Ku-band, covering the entire area of Indonesia.
As a country located near the equator with high rainfall, Red and White 2 is expected to become the most reliable HTS or broadband satellite in Indonesia. This is because it combines both frequency bands, where the C-Band has the best performance against heavy rainfall.
The Red and White 2 satellite uses the Spacebus 4000B2 platform designed by Thales Alenia Space, a renowned French satellite manufacturer responsible for designing, constructing, testing, and delivering the satellite to its launch location. In addition to this, Thales Alenia Space is also responsible for the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP), which includes the initial phase of the satellite after it separates from the rocket launcher until it reaches its desired orbital slot at 113 BT.
Thales Alenia Space will also provide full support for the satellite control system from the ground control station, as well as training Telkomsat to operate this broadband satellite throughout its lifespan. The CEO of Wholesale & International Service at Telkom, Bogi Witjaksono, stated that there are three main missions for Red and White 2, namely increasing national digital infrastructure resilience to support nationwide connectivity, securing and maintaining Indonesia's orbital slot at 113 BT, and strengthening the company's portfolio through increased internal capacity from 10 Gbps (Telkom 3S and Red and White satellites) to 42.4 Gbps.
Furthermore, the CEO of Telkomsat, Lukman Hakim Abd Rauf, added that HTS technology has a small footprint on the ground but can cover a large area, allowing for high-power satellite beams. "This broadband satellite enables frequency reuseability, which has the potential to increase the capacity of HTS satellites," he explained.
Regarding the selection of partners and procurement processes, Lukman emphasized that these processes were carried out in accordance with compliance principles and good corporate governance practices. Additionally, from a business perspective, the selection process took into account the lowest cost per Gbps, resulting in a satellite with greater capacity at a competitive price.
Red and White 2 is scheduled to be ready for service in April 2024 and will be used to help distribute digital services throughout Indonesia through satellite-based backhaul services, develop maritime businesses in Indonesia, and support data sovereignty by reducing reliance on foreign satellite capacities.