There are reports out of Indonesia that its Nusantara Lima (N5) high-throughput satellite, due to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this winter, could be delayed because of the break-up of Intelsat’s i-33e craft on October 21st. Boeing built the Intelsat satellite and the Indonesian craft has a near-identical specification and uses the same Boeing 702MP version.

Indonesia’s Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) ordered the satellite in May 2022, and had anticipated a speedy launch in order to fill a gap left by the failure of Nusantara-2 which failed to reach its target orbit in 2020.

It is due to be placed at 113 degrees East, and primarily serve the Indonesian archipeligo. This satellite is designed to support underserved areas, providing reliable connectivity to remote regions, including rural hospitals and schools. Around 80 Gbps of its bandwidth will serve Indonesia, with additional capacity aimed at neighboring countries like Malaysia and the Philippines.

Nusantara Lima 5 is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will be placed into a geostationary orbit. The satellite is part of Indonesia’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, providing internet access in areas where terrestrial communication infrastructure is not feasible. The mission will also rely on ground systems developed by partners such as Hughes Network Systems and Kratos Communications, ensuring operational efficiency and scalability.

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Tags: Boeing, Indonesia, satellite