Govt may protect satellite operator<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government may protect the business of PT
\nAsia Cellular Satellite System (ACeS), a satellite-based Personal
\nCommunications Services (PCS) provider, from competition from
\nforeign firms.<\/p>\n
\"We will consider protecting ACeS, which will enter service in
\n1998,\" Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave
\ntold reporters at his office here yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"This doesn't mean that the government will automatically
\nextend the protection. But it would make sense for the government
\nto extend protection because ACeS is so far the only Indonesian-
\nbased company willing to run such a business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that due to the rapid development of technology, the
\ntelecommunications regulations in Indonesia need modification.<\/p>\n
\"ACeS's plan to ask for protection will be an input for this
\nmodification,\" Joop said after witnessing the signing of
\nagreements between ACeS and its three major partners --
\ntelecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson of Sweden,
\nstate-owned financial firm PT Danareksa Finance and the U.S-
\nRussian satellite launching service Lockheed Khrunichev
\nEnterprises.<\/p>\n
\"It's appropriate for a nation to give a domestic company a
\nchance to breathe if it runs a business with technology developed
\nby the company itself,\" Joop said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that overseas companies are needed for
\nplanning, consultation, development, operation and supervision.<\/p>\n
ACeS's president, Adi R. Adiwoso, said recently that the
\ncompany wants protection until 2003, when the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) implements its ASEAN Free Trade
\nArea agreement.<\/p>\n
He said the government ought to give priority to a domestic
\nfirm, instead of giving licenses to overseas companies to run
\nsimilar businesses in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Dozens of overseas Mobile Satellite System operators are eying
\nmarkets in the region. Among the satellite-based PCS operators
\nare Iridium, Odyssey, Globalstar, Teledesic, Intermediate
\nCircular Orbit, Global Communications, Orbcomm, Afro-Asian
\nSatellite Communications, Asia-Pacific Mobile Telecommunications
\nSatellite, Signal, Marafon, Spaceway, Ellipso and Telesat Mobile
\nInc.<\/p>\n
PCS, with MSS technology, offers cheaper communication.
\nSubscribers can receive voice and data with a single phone number
\nwithin the satellite coverage area. Air time for PCS costs
\nbetween US$1 and $3 per minute.<\/p>\n
Adi said that ACeS will be able to charge only $1 per minute.<\/p>\n
Set up in 1995, ACeS plans to provide satellite-based PCS by
\n1998. To run this system, the company will launch a satellite
\ncurrently under construction at Lockheed Martin Corporation's
\nfacilities in the United States. The satellite will be called
\nGaruda.<\/p>\n
ACeS, owned by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, the Philippine
\nLong Distance Telephone Co. and Jasmine International Public Co.
\nLtd. of Thailand, signed a contract with Lockheed Khrunichev
\nyesterday for the launching. The Garuda is to be launched between
\nJuly and September 1998 on a Proton rocket from the Baikonur
\nCosmodrome in Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n
Khrunichev has completed more than 200 successful launches
\nsince its first flight in 1970, Lockheed Martin's program
\ndirector for ACeS, Paul Mellon, said. \"The Proton D-1-e (rocket)
\nwith its heavy lift capability and its outstanding success record
\nof 96 percent in the last 50 launches is the best launch vehicle
\nfor the ACeS mission.\"<\/p>\n
In yesterday's ceremony, ACeS also signed a $225 million
\ninitial order with Ericsson to manufacture dual-mode satellite-
\ncellular telephone handsets, which will be able to access the
\nsatellite and link up with local terrestrial cellular and fixed
\nnetworks. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-may-protect-satellite-operator-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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