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