An expanding field

An expanding field

The enthusiasm of private investors to do business in the
telecommunications sector continues. This is evident from the
fact that scores of companies have already expressed their desire
to participate in the personal communication service (PCS)
project, the tender for which the government is likely to open
soon.

The adoption of PCS technology, if the government so desires,
will usher in a new phase in the development of the cellular
mobile telephones business in Indonesia. It was only a few years
ago that the country entered era of the global system for mobile
communication (GSM). The PCS system is a further development of
GSM technology.

It is probably no exaggeration to say that Indonesia is one of
the most daring and most successful countries in terms of
developing a modern telecommunications system. Precisely 20 years
ago (in August 1976) it launched the Palapa I domestic
communications satellite. At that time only two other countries
in the world possessed such a system.

It appears that the right policies taken by the government in
the past ushered in a refreshing breeze for the growth of the
telecommunications business that has continued to the present.
Lately, we have even become accustomed to hearing about our
businessmen getting involved in telecommunications projects
abroad.

This is a heartening development considering the fact that in
the future the telecommunications sector is certain to become a
leading area in business, in step with the continuing growth in
other areas. Given the enthusiasm our businessmen have shown to
participate in the PCS project we hope the government,
particularly the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications, will once again be able to demonstrate
Indonesia's leadership in the field of telecommunications
facilities development.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta