By Stefanno Sulaiman

DENPASAR, May 19 (Reuters) - Elon Musk and Indonesian

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin launched SpaceX's satellite

internet service for the nation's health sector on Sunday,

aiming to improve access in remote parts of the sprawling

archipelago.

Musk, the billionaire head of SpaceX and Tesla,

arrived on the Indonesian resort island of Bali by private jet

before attending the launch ceremony at a community health

centre in the provincial capital, Denpasar.

Musk, wearing a green batik shirt, said the availability of

the Starlink service in Indonesia would help millions in

far-flung parts of the country to access the internet. The

country is home to more than 270 million people and three

different time zones,

"I'm very excited to bring connectivity to places that have

low connectivity," Musk said, "If you have access to the

internet you can learn anything."

Starlink was launched at three Indonesian health centres on

Sunday, including two in Bali and one on the remote island of

Aru in Maluku.

A video presentation screened at the launch showed how high

internet speeds enabled the real-time input of data to better

tackle health challenges such as stunting and malnutrition.

Asked about whether he planned to also invest in Indonesia's

electric vehicle industry, Musk said he was focused on Starlink

first.

"We are focusing this event on Starlink and the benefits

that connectivity brings to remote islands," he said, "I think

it's really to emphasize the importance of internet

connectivity, how much of that can be a lifesaver."

Indonesia's government has been trying for years to lure

Musk's auto firm Tesla to build manufacturing plants related to

electric vehicles as the government wants to develop its EV

sector using the country's rich nickel resources.

The tech tycoon is scheduled to meet Indonesian President

Joko Widodo on Monday, where he will also address the World

Water Forum taking place on the island.

Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, who also attended

the Bali launch, said Starlink was now available commercially,

but the government would focus its services first for outer and

underdeveloped regions.

Prior to Sunday's launch, Starlink obtained a permit to

operate as an internet service provider for retail consumers and

had been given the go-ahead to provide networks, having received

a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) permit, Budi Setiadi told

Reuters.

SpaceX's Starlink, which owns around 60% of the roughly

7,500 satellites orbiting earth, is dominant in the satellite

internet sphere.

Indonesia is the third country in Southeast Asia where

Starlink will operate. Malaysia issued the firm a license to

provide internet services last year and a Philippine-based firm

signed a deal with SpaceX in 2022.

Starlink is also used extensively in Ukraine, where it is

employed by the military, hospitals, businesses and aid

organisations.