APJII Criticizes Illegal Resale of Starlink Internet in Indonesia

The Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) has raised concerns over the inability of Elon Musk’s low-orbit satellite service, Starlink, to regulate simultaneous usage in Indonesia. This issue has led to the rise of illegal internet reselling practices, commonly known as illegal RT/RW Net.

APJII Secretary-General Zulfadly Syam acknowledged that Starlink has contributed to expanding internet access in Indonesia. However, he highlighted the lack of effective mechanisms to prevent service-sharing practices that are later commercialized by unauthorized providers.

“Many users are still sharing a single Starlink connection across multiple households and turning it into a commercial service. If done for personal use, it wouldn’t be an issue. However, turning it into an unlicensed business poses a significant problem,” Zulfadly stated, as quoted on Monday (Feb 24, 2025).

APJII Questions Starlink's Monitoring System

APJII also revealed that, to date, it has not been informed of any concrete measures by Starlink to prevent unauthorized reselling of its internet services.

Additionally, APJII raised concerns about Starlink’s upcoming technology, which would allow direct satellite-to-smartphone internet access without requiring intermediary devices. The organization fears that this breakthrough could disrupt Indonesia’s existing internet ecosystem.

“We believe this new model could significantly impact the entire internet ecosystem in the country,” said Zulfadly.

Starlink’s Internet Quality Still Affected by Weather Conditions

Regarding service performance, APJII noted that Starlink’s internet speed has not seen significant improvements since its launch in May 2024.

“In principle, most satellite-based connections remain vulnerable to weather-related disruptions, such as heavy rain, which can degrade network quality. This is a common issue across all satellite-based services,” Zulfadly explained.

It is known that Starlink officially began operations in Indonesia in May 2024, following approval from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) as a retail internet provider.

The launch was conducted by Elon Musk alongside President Joko Widodo in Bali on May 19, 2024, coinciding with the 10th World Water Forum.

Starlink’s Investment in Indonesia Remains Limited

Upon entering the Indonesian market, Starlink invested only Rp30 billion. However, details regarding how this investment was utilized remain unclear.

Meanwhile, initial reports following the launch indicated that approximately 15,000 Indonesians had expressed interest in using the service.

Globally, Starlink’s subscriber base has continued to grow, rising from 3 million users in May 2024 to 4 million in September 2024, marking an increase of 1 million users within just four months.

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