Saturday, 12-09-26
The Yogi Starlink case in Mentawai is entering a new phase as the government seeks a way to address both telecom licensing and the local community’s need for better internet access.
Yogi Gilang Arya Setia, a 39-year-old resident of Sikakap, Mentawai Islands, was detained on July 8, 2026, and is facing proceedings at the Padang District Court over the provision and resale of Starlink-based internet services.
The case is registered under number 450/Pid.Sus/2026/PN Pdg. Yogi is accused of violating provisions of Law No. 36 of 1999 on Telecommunications.
The case has since attracted attention from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), which says it will respect the legal process while exploring a solution that could allow Yogi’s activities to become licensed.
The latest development came on August 29, when Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said Komdigi had held discussions with Telkomsat and Starlink. The parties had reached a sufficiently advanced stage in discussions to support Yogi in becoming an official or licensed reseller.
How Yogi’s Starlink Business Started in Mentawai
The story began in 2024, when Yogi purchased a Starlink satellite internet device and installed it at his parents’ guesthouse in Sikakap Village.
At the time, telecommunications infrastructure in Sikakap was still limited. The connection was subsequently used by people in the local community who needed internet access.
Demand extended beyond residents. Several government agencies, state-owned enterprises and the local police office were also reported to have used the internet connection from the location.
As demand increased, Yogi expanded the available network and established PT Mentawai Network Provider. Through the company, he began reselling Starlink-based internet services to users in Sikakap.
The company obtained a Business Identification Number, or NIB, from the central government on October 2, 2025. However, several other supporting operational permits were still being processed.
The licensing issue became a legal matter in October 2025, when the Mentawai Islands Police issued a Model A Police Report over alleged telecommunications business activity without the required authorization.
Why Internet Demand Collided With Telecom Licensing
The central tension in the Yogi Starlink case is the gap between a genuine demand for connectivity and the licensing requirements governing telecommunications services.
Komdigi Minister Meutya Hafid said the government viewed the situation from both sides. Internet services must comply with licensing requirements, but people in Sikakap also need better-quality internet access.
“Without reducing our respect for the ongoing legal process, we also do not want to intervene. However, from Komdigi’s perspective, we see two sides. First, someone providing internet services does need to have a permit. But on the other hand, in Sikakap Village, Mentawai, there is indeed a community need for better-quality internet services,” Meutya said on August 25, 2026.
Sikakap already has 4G coverage, according to Komdigi. The problem is that the supporting infrastructure remains limited.
The area does not yet have fiber-optic infrastructure, while its 4G service still depends on a single operator. As a result, having 4G coverage does not necessarily provide the same service quality or choice available in other areas.
This infrastructure gap is an important part of the government’s response to the case. Komdigi says the connectivity needs of residents cannot be separated from the licensing issue surrounding Yogi’s activities.
Rather than treating the matter only as a regulatory violation, the ministry says it also needs to consider the community’s need for connectivity and the intention of local residents who are trying to provide it.
The case also led to a dispute over the legal process. Yogi’s lawyer, Romi, raised at least three issues that his side considered irregularities during the investigation.
The first concerned the use of a Model A Police Report. His legal team argued that the mechanism was generally used for serious criminal cases and questioned its application given Yogi’s stated intention to operate a business, including his possession of an NIB.
The second issue involved the legal subject of the case. According to Yogi’s lawyer, he had already become President Commissioner of PT Mentawai Network Provider when the police report was issued on October 22, 2025. The defense therefore argued that the disputed business activity should have been associated with the company.
The third concerned the seizure of assets. The defense said assets belonging personally to Yogi were seized rather than assets registered under PT Mentawai Network Provider.
The legal team also argued that the issue should first have been addressed through administrative mechanisms because the alleged violation was closely connected to telecommunications operations and licensing.
The defense subsequently sought a suspension of Yogi’s detention, partly because it was concerned that his detention could disrupt internet services used by the Sikakap community.
Komdigi Seeks a Legal Path for the Local Internet Service
Komdigi has proposed a different approach alongside the ongoing legal process: helping the activity enter the formal telecommunications ecosystem.
Meutya said the ministry’s approach could include assisting the business or individual involved in obtaining the necessary permits. Another option would be to connect the local operator with an already licensed internet service provider.
Under that arrangement, the activity could potentially operate as a reseller within the licensed telecommunications ecosystem.
“The way to do it is how? They could be helped to obtain a permit. Not prosecuted, but helped to obtain a permit. Or we could also help connect or partner them with licensed ISPs in that area, so that they become part of the ecosystem or a reseller of that ISP,” Meutya said.
Komdigi stressed that this approach does not mean intervening in Yogi’s legal case. The ministry said the legal proceedings would continue according to the authorities’ respective powers, while Komdigi carries out its role in developing and supervising the telecommunications sector.
Meutya also said the ministry’s approach is intended to prioritize corrective and developmental measures, with criminal law positioned as a last resort.
“According to our view, the spirit of the new Criminal Procedure Code should also prioritize developmental measures, and criminal legal action should be the last resort. That is what we usually do. In several other regions there have also been cases like this, but usually when Komdigi finds them through our supervision, we provide guidance,” she said.
The ministry has also acknowledged that information technology can encourage innovation and creativity at the local level.
Meutya said situations may arise in the field where communities develop their own solutions to help others, but she continued to urge such activities to comply with licensing requirements.
Telkomsat and Starlink Join Talks on Official Reseller Status
The proposed reseller model became more concrete toward the end of August.
On August 29, Meutya said Komdigi had held discussions with Telkomsat and Starlink regarding Yogi’s situation. She said the discussions were already at an advanced stage, with both parties agreeing to support Yogi in becoming an official or licensed reseller.
“For Yogi’s case in Mentawai, we have already had fairly mature discussions with Telkomsat and Starlink,” Meutya said in Jakarta on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
“So both have agreed to provide guidance to Yogi so that he can then become an official or officially licensed reseller,” she added.
Telkomsat is relevant to the arrangement because, according to the source, it has held the rights to land Starlink satellite services for backhaul since 2022.
For Komdigi, the reseller model could provide a way to address both sides of the issue. Yogi’s internet activity could move into a recognized business structure while residents could continue receiving connectivity.
“If this solution can be implemented, then both goals can be achieved. From the ecosystem perspective, the service can be delivered, and secondly, more people in Mentawai can have internet access,” Meutya said.
The latest development does not mean the legal proceedings have been cancelled. Komdigi has repeatedly stated that it respects the ongoing court process and that its efforts to find a licensing solution are separate from judicial intervention.
Mentawai Case Highlights Indonesia’s Remote Connectivity Gap
The Yogi Starlink case also sits within a wider government effort to improve connectivity in remote parts of Indonesia.
Meutya said the government had auctioned the 1.4 GHz spectrum to expand Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services to households. Companies that win the auction are required to build networks in remote areas.
The program is expected to provide another potential solution for areas such as the Mentawai Islands, although infrastructure development will take time.
“We hope this will be the solution. Of course, it takes time to build, but hopefully within a year the solution can begin to be felt in areas that currently do not have good internet services,” Meutya said.
The minister also said that, in general, all villages in Indonesia already have some form of 4G connection. However, fiber-optic availability remains uneven, and the absence of fiber can significantly affect the ability to access high-speed internet services.
For Mentawai, the immediate challenge remains the limited supporting infrastructure. The lack of fiber-optic connectivity means alternative technologies can become important for communities that need better internet services before larger infrastructure projects are completed.
The Yogi Starlink case is therefore unfolding on two parallel tracks: the court process over telecommunications licensing and the government’s effort to find a formal route for the service to operate within the licensed industry ecosystem.
This article is a summary of severals original articles. The full versions can be read at the following links:
https://tirto.id/siapa-yogi-starlink-dan-kenapa-ia-dipidana-karena-internet-hBNJ
This article was created with AI assistance.
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our content, some information may be incorrect or outdated. Please let us know of any corrections at [email protected].
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