Telkom to demand compensation<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom
\nwill demand compensation for all telecommunications assets it has
\nbuilt in East Timor from the new administration of the riot-torn
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Telkom's vice president for communications Dody Amarudien said
\nif the compensation demand was rejected, the whole
\ntelecommunications facilities would be removed.<\/p>\n
\"Compensation is a must because most of the facilities and
\ninfrastructure was built with borrowed money, including loans
\nfrom the World Bank, which we have to repay,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He could not disclose the total investment Telkom has so far
\nmade in the province.<\/p>\n
Dody said Telkom was making an inventory of all facilities and
\ninfrastructure before deciding the compensation fee to be paid by
\nEast Timor's future authority.<\/p>\n
He said the telecommunications facilities which had been built
\nin the area included the main earth station in East Timor's
\ncapital Dili, satellite-supporting Very Small Aperture Terminal
\n(VSAT) facilities at each of East Timor's 13 regencies, local and
\nmain exchange trunks, wireless telephone lines, repeater stations
\nand operational vehicles.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese territory is presently in a state of
\nanarchy with killings and arson blamed on pro-Jakarta militias
\nfollowing the announcement of a popular vote held last week in
\nfavor of independence.<\/p>\n
The poll results will be submitted for approval to members of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly, which will meet some time in
\nNovember. If it is approved, administration of the province will
\nbe handed over the United Nations to pave the way for the
\nestablishment of the new government of the new country.<\/p>\n
Telkom and its exclusive partners in the Joint Operation
\nScheme (KSO) have built approximately 14,000 wireless fixed line
\nunits in East Timor since the province joined Indonesia in 1975,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said Telkom has invested a lot of money to provide
\ntelecommunications facilities for around 7,200 customers in the
\nprovince using satellite transmissions from the Palapa B2R and
\nPalapa B4 satellites.<\/p>\n
The violence, arson and property damage, resulting from the
\nconflict, has affected telecommunication services, especially in
\nremote areas, according to Minister of Communications Giri
\nSuseno.<\/p>\n
Giri said disruption in transmissions occurred in some remote
\nareas because the repeater stations in those areas were abandoned
\nby the frightened Telkom employees.<\/p>\n
Dody said Telkom evacuated many of its staff from several
\nremote and unsafe areas, leaving a number of facilities, most of
\nwhich are repeater stations, unattended.<\/p>\n
Telkom, however, would strive to continue providing services
\nin the main cities, especially Dili, he said.<\/p>\n
He said telecommunications in Dili were so far not affected
\nbecause main facilities and infrastructure were guarded by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Telkom has evacuated half of its 127 employees, 50 of whom are
\nEast Timorese, he said. (43\/cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/telkom-to-demand-compensation-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}