Palapa satellite (1976)
Indonesia launched Palapa A1, the first communications satellite owned by a developing country, to link the archipelago's islands. The government built and operated the system to overcome the country's geography.
Palapa transformed communications across Indonesia's islands and became a national symbol.
It set a pattern of national connectivity projects, later joined by private investment.
Indonesia has repeatedly built national connectivity infrastructure to bridge its islands; RAIA Grid is the latest, privately funded iteration.
