August 7, 2018 – Falcon 9 successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida carrying the Merah Putih mission for PT Telkom Indonesia. The satellite is part of the critical telecommunications backbone connecting thousands of islands in Indonesia, other parts of Southeast Asia, and it expands service to South Asia. Merah Putih, which will be located at 108 degrees East longitude, is an all C-band satellite that enhances both internet and telephone service for populations in remote regions and will be used to offload backhaul for cellular service. Merah Putih is based on the powerful and reliable SSL 1300 platform, which provides flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. It is designed to provide service for 16 years or more.