Call made easier during APEC

Call made easier during APEC

JAKARTA (JP): The state telecommunications company, PT Telkom,
has temporarily installed 4,000 new lines to support the series
of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, which
started here yesterday.

Telkom's president, Setyanto P. Santosa, said yesterday that
the installation has cost his company Rp 3 billion (US$1.4
million).

The installed telephone facilities exclude major equipment
such as telephone exchanges which were procured by the company
for the 10th Non-Align Movement summit, which was held here in
1992.

"I don't think the money will evaporate for nothing as I
consider it a long-term investment," Setyanto said at a press
conference after singing a cooperation agreement between Telkom
and the Host Committee for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting
(AELM).

The executive chairman of the committee, Abdul Rahman Ramly,
said Telkom bears the heavy task of ensuring smooth
telecommunications services for the coming meeting in Bogor, West
Java.

To ensure the best service, Setyanto said he has mobilized
over 200 skilled technicians and telephone operators, 150 of
which will be deployed in Bogor's presidential palace, where the
18 leaders of the APEC member economies will convene on Nov. 15.

The palace, which will be the central spot of press coverage
by 3,000 foreign and local journalists, is equipped with 800 new
telephone lines connected with special telephone exchanges.

"We provide "toll-road" lines for journalists and delegates.
And especially for leaders of economies, we provide hot lines
direct to their respective countries," Setyanto explained, adding
that the company also offers a 25 percent discount on all
telephone calls using the new lines.

Hilton

The Jakarta Hilton Convention Center, where all preliminary
and senior official, as well as ministerial, meetings are to be
conducted, is furnished with around 1,300 new lines, including
the facsimile machines, point-to-point and modem channels at the
International Press Center, which opens tomorrow.

Other facilities provided by Telkom include 1,200 mobile
telephones, 13 collect-call Home Country Direct booths -- eight
in Bogor and five at the convention center -- 132 card-telephone
boxes -- 72 in Bogor and 60 at the center -- and 40 coin-
telephone boxes at the convention center.

The company also has provided special television channels for
both foreign and local television stations, which will set up
temporary broadcast centers in Bogor.

"All the results of the AELM in Bogor will be broadcast
instantly to the rest of the world," Setyanto promised. (rid)

Customs -- Page 9

Malaysia -- Page 11