Indosat to sign telecom project in Cambodia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned international telecommunications
\ncompany, PT Indosat, currently finalizing negotiations on a
\nproject for telecommunication refurbishment in Cambodia, expects
\nto sign the contract next month.<\/p>\n
\"We expect to conclude negotiations by Monday and sign a
\ncontract on the project here on Nov. 10,\" senior expert of
\nIndosat, D. Habimono Koesoebjono, told The Jakarta Post during a
\nbreak of the seminar on telecommunications held by the Pacific
\nTelecommunications Council (PTC) at the Borobudur Inter-
\nContinental hotel yesterday.<\/p>\n
Under the planned contract, which will be signed by Indosat's
\npresident and an official of Cambodia's Ministry of Post and
\nTelecommunications, a joint venture will be established with a
\nCambodian party in developing the project, he said.<\/p>\n
In September, Indosat won a lucrative project for Cambodia's
\ndomestic telephone network, including the installation of 10,000
\nphone lines and renovation of the old cellular network utilized
\nby UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia).<\/p>\n
The network, originally installed two years ago at a cost of
\nUS$50 million by Telstra of Australia, is currently in disrepair.<\/p>\n
Another source at the recently public-listed company said the
\nrefurbishment project will be worth twice that of the original
\ninstallment and Indosat is likely to invest US$15 million in the
\njoint venture.<\/p>\n
Six international telecommunications companies participated in
\nthe tender, including Telstra, France Telecom, DeTecom of
\nGermany, two Thai companies Shinawatra and CP Telecom, and Korea
\nTelecom.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
\nJoop Ave told reporters yesterday that the government encourages
\nboth Indosat and the state's domestic telecommunications operator
\nPT Telkom to pursue feasibility studies on telecommunication
\nprojects in various developing countries.<\/p>\n
Joop told the two-day seminar that Indonesia, and several
\nother countries in the Asia-Pacific region, still need to
\naggressively increase its telecom-density.<\/p>\n
\"Let me encourage PTC and its members to help these countries
\nin building their telecom infrastructures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said early next year Telkom will conduct studies on
\ntelecommunication projects in African countries, including
\nTanzania and Somalia, which will be financially supported by
\nJapan.<\/p>\n
Inmarsat-P<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indosat's president Tjahjono Soerjodibroto told
\nreporters that his company will participate in a US$2.6 billion
\nmobile satellite telephone project proposed by the International
\nMaritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat).<\/p>\n
\"This is a future telecommunications business. We will be left
\nbehind if we do not take part,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Inmarsat is a leading global mobile satellite communications
\noperator, owned by 76 signatories -- telecommunications firms
\nfrom all over the world. Indosat became a member in 1986, and
\ncontrols a 0.26 percent stake in the London-based organization.<\/p>\n
Tjahjono said his company has not yet discussed financial
\nconspiracy in the project which is called Project 21.<\/p>\n
The project was first announced in 1991, as a major initiative
\nto develop advanced satellite based personal mobile
\ncommunications system to meet market demands for the remainder of
\nthe decade and into the next century.<\/p>\n
The principal development of the project's program is called
\nInmarsat-P which will use 12 satellites in an intermediate
\ncircular orbit system for its space segment. Scheduling for full
\nservice availability will be in September 2000.(icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indosat-to-sign-telecom-project-in-cambodia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}