Arianespace to launch TELKOM-2

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State telecommunication company PT Telkom will launch TELKOM- 2, its latest satellite, with a launch vehicle from French company Arianespace under a deal worth US$62.9 million, which was signed on Friday.

The rocket Ariane 5 will launch TELKOM-2 in the second half of 2004 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, Arianespace said in a statement.

Telkom is to pay a 43.7 percent down payment and settle the remainder during the first three quarters in 2004, said Telkom's investment officer Setyawan Sulistyono, as quoted by Detik.com.

The launch contract was signed by Telkom president Kristiono and Arianespace president Jean-Yves Le Gall.

"Arianespace is proud to have been entrusted once again by PT Telkom for the launch of TELKOM-2," said Le Gall in the statement.

Friday's contract would bring the cost of launching TELKOM-2 to an estimated US$135 million. Last month, the state company appointed U.S. space systems company Orbital Sciences to build the satellite at an estimated cost of US$73 million.

TELKOM-2 marks Indonesia's first communication satellite since 1999, and will replace the existing Palapa B-4 satellite, which has a lifespan until late 2004. The new satellite has a lifespan of 15 years, according to Arianespace.

Once launched, TELKOM-2 will cover Indonesia and parts of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, and will provide multimedia and high-speed Internet services as well as satellite telephone network services.