Arianespace to launch TELKOM-2

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.