Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that the BRIsat satellite, designed and built for PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI), the oldest and most profitable bank in Indonesia, has arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where it will be launched aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle by Arianespace. BRI will use the satellite to provide a dedicated platform for banking connection services for the people of Indonesia.
BRIsat is the world’s first communications satellite dedicated to a financial institution. It will provide both C-band and Ku-band coverage of Indonesia and South East Asia. Positioned at 150.5 degrees East longitude, the satellite will enable BRI to provide enhanced secure banking communications for more than 10,600 operational branches, 236,939 electronic channel outlets, and almost 53 million customers across the Indonesian archipelago.
“It has been an honor to work with bank BRI to build a satellite that will help improve lives in Indonesia by expanding the availability of banking services,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “We are pleased that the satellite arrived at launch base on schedule and look forward to its successful launch.”
BRIsat is based on the SSL 1300 satellite platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The satellite is designed to provide service for 15 years or longer.
“SSL has been a professional and reliable partner in the design and manufacturing of our satellite,” said BRI CEO Asmawi Syam Syamsuddin. “The satellite was delivered on schedule in just 24 months and when launched it will help us better serve the people of Indonesia.”
SSL is also providing BRI with a complete ground system solution, which includes two satellite control facilities, as well as training, and launch support services.
About BRI
PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI) is one of the largest state-owned banks in Indonesia. BRI went to public through Initial Public Offering in 2003 and became one of the blue chip stock traded in the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The Indonesian Government still keeps the majority share of 56.75%. For more detail, visit www.bri.co.id.
About SSL
Space Systems Loral (SSL) is a leading provider of commercial satellites with broad expertise to support satellite operators and innovative space related missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband Internet, mobile communications, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for more than 50 years, SSL’s advanced product line also includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and automation solutions for remote operations. For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.
