Indonesian firms join RP satellite project<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): A consortium including Chinese and Indonesian
\npartners said yesterday it planned to launch a Philippine
\nsatellite in 1996, two years ahead of the scheduled launch of
\nanother bird planned by a consortium of Filipino
\ntelecommunications firms.<\/p>\n
Jacinto Paras, director of the Philippine Communications
\nSatellite Corp. (Philcomsat), said the group includes Indonesian
\nfirms Pacific Satelit Nusantra and PT Telkom, and the China-based
\nEverbright Group Ltd.<\/p>\n
He said the satellite would not compete with the plans of the
\n16-member Agila consortium to launch its own domestic satellite
\nby 1998 at the urging of the Philippine government.<\/p>\n
The Philcomsat consortium also includes dominant carrier
\nPhilippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), broadcast station
\nGMA-7, and Cable Entertainment.<\/p>\n
Both Philcomsat and PLDT are also members of the Agila
\nconsortium, an equal partnership which has yet to select a
\nsatellite firm for the launch. Paras said Philcomsat has a 10
\npercent stake in the other satellite project.<\/p>\n
Paras said the orbital slots required for the second
\nconsortium have been made available by the Indonesian firms.<\/p>\n
\"Following the principle of free enterprise, ours is a private
\nconsortium and it's a viable project so we will push through,\"
\nParas said.<\/p>\n
The Agila consortium charged last week that the other
\nconsortium's satellite would be a direct competitor.<\/p>\n
Paras said however that while the satellite launch by the
\nconsortium would provide domestic and regional services, it would
\ncomplement Agila since the 16 telecoms players involved would be
\nrequired to come up with six million to seven million lines under
\ntheir agreement with the National Telecommunications Commission.<\/p>\n
\"This demand alone will already consume transponder space so
\nAgila is still viable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Philippine-Indonesian-Chinese consortium has yet to
\ndetermine what steps it will take following the Agila
\nconsortium's rejection of the seven percent equity in their
\nregional satellite.<\/p>\n
Manila is seeking free transponder space on the Agila
\nsatellite in exchange for applying for an orbital slot, something
\nonly governments are empowered to do. Their application for this
\nslot is still pending.<\/p>\n
The Philippines currently leases space on Indonesia's
\nsatellite.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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