Elon Musk in Bali to launch his ‘lifesaver’ Starlink internet

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has launched his new internet service in Bali, saying it will be a “lifesaver” for health services, and “transformative for education”.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially launched his Starlink service on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali as the country aims to extend internet to its remote areas.

Millions of people in Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, are not currently hooked up to reliable internet services.

Musk, making his first visit to the Southeast Asian nation, inaugurated the satellite unit services at a clinic in Bali’s capital Denpasar on Sunday afternoon.

He also signed an agreement on the health sector along with Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk speaks next to Indonesia's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (left) during a ceremony held to inaugurate the satellite unit Starlink at a community health centre in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali. Picture: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP

Musk and the officials also attended a presentation by staff members from Indonesia’s community clinics in Bali and Maluku provinces on the acceleration of internet speeds after using Starlink.

The internet services have been pilot-tested in three health facilities in the regions to input various data sets into the national system, such as those on immunisations, child nutrition and diabetes.

“We are very excited to bring connectivity to places that either have no connectivity or, as you saw in the demonstration, very low bandwidth connectivity,” Musk said at a news conference.

“So, this can make a really lifesaver for remote medical clinics. And I think it can be transformative for education as well.”

Tech billionaire Elon Musk speaks to the media at the Starlink launch. Picture: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP

Musk’s private jet landed at Ngurah Rai International airport in Denpasar, where he was greeted by Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk walks with Indonesia’s Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Picture: AFP

Musk will launch Starlink and give a speech at the opening forum of the week-long 10th World Water Forum, which will also be attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

“The President, together with Elon Musk, will launch Starlink in the hopes of facilitating communication in remote areas. The launch will take place on Sunday,” Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said before Musk’s arrival.

The aircraft transporting tech billionaire Elon Musk is seen during his arrival at Ngurah Rai International airport in Denpasar. Picture: AFP

It’s hoped the availability of Starlink is set to change the game for tourists as well as the thousands of Australians who base themselves out of the island paradise while working remotely.

Cruise ship passengers on journeys across the Pacific will also benefit from the launch of the internet service.

Bali isn’t the only oceanic paradise beloved by Aussies but plagued by patchy internet to be brought into the 21st century by Starlink.

Beautiful Bali is a dream holiday destination – but a nightmare when the internet drops out. Picture: Getty Images

Carnival Corporation began rolling out Starlink on its ships in late 2022 starting with those based in its Florida headquarters and the German AIDA branded fleet.

But as of this week, Carnival has completed the rollout to its entire global fleet including the three P & O ships based in Australia – Pacific Encounter, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Explorer.

Cruise lovers travelling with P & O will also be able to connect to Starlink. Picture: Supplied

Internet speed and availability is notoriously unreliable aboard ships so the inclusion Starlink will be a welcome change.

“Starlink has been a game-changer for the on-board connectivity experience our cruise lines deliver to their guests, and we’ve already seen a surge in guest satisfaction and positive feedback from the super-fast and reliable Wi-Fi service we provide on-board,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

“We see this technology as a win-win-win – it provides our guests with more flexibility to stay as connected as they’d like on vacation, it allows our crew to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, and it enhances our on-board operational systems.”

Starlink will initially be available in Nusantara before being rolled out to surrounding areas.

It has more than two million global customers.

The Bali Sun reports the Starlink packages start at A$70 a month for Balinese customers.