Telkom-1 satellite launch may be delayed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Telkom has not received formal notification
\nfrom European space launcher Arianespace concerning a possible
\ndelay in the launch of its Telkom-1 satellite, a company
\nspokesperson said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Arianespace has not given us formal notification on the
\nmatter. So, Telkom will stick to the agreement to launch Telkom-1
\nin early July until we receive formal notice,\" Dodi Amirudin told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said if a delay was called, it would not be the first time.<\/p>\n
\"Telkom-1 was first scheduled to be launched on April this
\nyear, then it was delayed to July due to the unpreparedness of
\nthe co-passenger satellite.\"<\/p>\n
Dodi said another delay, however, would not in anyway change
\nthe agreement between Telkom and Arianespace.<\/p>\n
\"We're not going to switch to other space launchers. We have
\nmade our agreement and paid all the expenses.\"<\/p>\n
Delays do not cause any financial loss to Telkom, because
\nunder the existing agreement Telkom-1's manufacturer Lockheed
\nMartin covers maintenance costs in the event of delays.<\/p>\n
Arianespace's vice president for sales Philippe Berterottiere
\nsaid on Wednesday the launching date of the new Telkom-1
\nsatellite had been postponed.<\/p>\n
\"Telkom-1 cannot be launched as scheduled in July along with
\nthe Asiastar radio satellite,\" he told AFP.<\/p>\n
He did not mention a new tentative schedule for the launching,
\nor the reason for the delay.<\/p>\n
Arianespace previously scheduled Telkom-1 to be launched
\ntogether with co-passenger satellite Asiastar in the first or
\nsecond week of July.<\/p>\n
Berterottiere said Telkom-1 had been \"slightly delayed\" and
\nAsiastar had been \"significantly delayed\".<\/p>\n
In April 1997, Arianespace signed a deal with Telkom to launch
\nthe Telkom-1 satellite using an Ariane 504 rocket from the
\nEuropean Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 will be the third Indonesian satellite launched by
\nArianespace, after Palapa C2, launched in 1996 and Indostar in
\n1997.<\/p>\n
The satellite is set to carry on services provided by Palapa-
\nB2R, which is due to end its service life in mid-2001.<\/p>\n
The satellite, weighing 2,632 kilogram at liftoff, and
\ncarrying 24 C Band transpondents and 12 Extended C Band
\ntranspondents, will operate for up to 17 years at its orbital
\nlocation of 108.0 degrees east.<\/p>\n
Telkom said the new satellite was expected to be ready for
\ncommercial operation in September 1999, and would cover countries
\nin the southeast Asian region, as well as northern Australia.<\/p>\n
Telkom-1 will provide various telecommunications services,
\nincluding multimedia and high speed Internet via satellite, a
\nsatellite telephony network and news gathering, analog or digital
\nbroadcasts and backbone transmission.<\/p>\n
Worth US$191.4 in total, the satellite project comprises a
\n$84.6 million satellite contract with Lockheed Martin, a $90.1
\nmillion launch contract with Arianespace, a $15 million insurance
\npackage with local firm Jasindo and $1.6 million in consultancy
\nservices with Canadian firm Telesat. (cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/telkom-1-satellite-launch-may-be-delayed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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