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)

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