Indonesia: Mitratel signs MoU with AALTO
August 6, 2024
PT Dayamitra Telekomunikasi (Mitratel), a digital infrastructure telecommunications company, and AALTO HAPS, which designs, manufactures and operates the stratospheric, solar-powered Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore how to provide commercial HAPS solutions in Indonesia.
Combined with Mitratel’s digital infrastructure portfolio that includes more than 38,000 towers and 37,000 km fibre optic, AALTO’s Zephyr offers capabilities from the stratosphere that will be transformative for mobile connectivity and earth observation.
Indonesia is the largest archipelago globally with geographic and economic challenges in extending internet access and network availability across 3T, the country’s frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped areas. Capable of flying for months at a time, Zephyr is a payload agnostic platform that can transform into a multi-functional tower in the sky to provide low latency 5G direct to-device mobile connectivity services in hard-to-reach and rural locations.
Theodorus Ardi Hartoko (Teddy), CEO of Mitratel, said: “We support the Government of Indonesia’s plans to deliver equal access to high-quality telecommunication for all citizens. Access to the internet can improve quality of life alongside boosting economic growth in regions. Therefore, we are pioneering various initiatives and adopting new technology that enables Mitratel to expand its network effectively. We are confident that collaboration with AALTO will expand existing infrastructure to improve access to affordable and effective connectivity across 3T regions by develop the industrial and commercial pathway for HAPS and Flying Tower Systems (FTS) in Indonesia.”
Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of AALTO, added: “Zephyr is at the cutting-edge of sustainable technology, with connectivity and observation capabilities that can help bridge the digital divide in Indonesia. There is a unique opportunity for non-terrestrial networks such as HAPS to play a critical role in the telecommunications ecosystem of countries like Indonesia, enhancing existing infrastructure from mobile network operators and tower companies. Mitratel continues to be an innovative market leader, recognising the game-changing potential of services from the stratosphere. Our focus now turns to deepening our engagement with Mitratel to build a cohesive HAPS ecosystem in Indonesia.”