Five spacecraft firms to bid for Palapa-D project
Five spacecraft firms to bid for Palapa-D project
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom)
has invited Hughes Space and Communications Company, Lockheed
Martin, Loral Corporation, Matra Marconi and Aerospatiale to
submit proposals for manufacturing the Palapa-D satellite series.
A senior Telkom executive, Arifin Nugroho, said yesterday that
the Palapa-D1 satellite, the first of the planned two spacecraft,
is slated for operation within the next two years and the Palapa-
D2 in 2003.
"We expect to receive bids soon. If everything goes well, we
will be able to decide the winner by the end of this year as the
first satellite will be launched in late 1998," he said during a
break of a hearing between Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave and House Commission V for
transportation, tourism and telecommunications.
Hughes of the United States is the manufacturer of two Palapa-
A and four Palapa-B satellites operated by Telkom as well as the
two satellites of the Palapa-C series operated by PT Satelindo.
Lockheed Martin is one of the top defense contractors in the
United States, while Loral is another leading aerospace company
in the U.S. Matra Marconi is a French-British aeronautics and
space company, while Aerospatiale is a French aerospace firm.
The Palapa-D project, which will consist of two satellites, is
being developed by Telkom and its subsidiary PT Satelindo, the
operator of the Palapa-C1 and Palapa-C2 satellites.
Each of the Palapa-D satellites is designed to have 60
transponders, including the high-frequency Ku-band, which will
reach up to 11 gigahertz and 12 gigahertz.
Telkom and Satelindo will each control 30 transponders on the
Palapa-D1 satellite.
Arifin said that the Palapa-D1 will have wider coverage than
the Palapa-C1 and Palapa-C2, which are currently in orbit.
Arifin, who is responsible for technology affairs, refused to
talk about the financial arrangements for the Palapa-D project.
Industrial sources said that the project is likely to cost
more than twice as much as the US$200 million spent on the
Palapa-C satellite with 34 transponders.
In a related development, Director General of Post and
Telecommunications Djakaria Purawidjaja said that a team of
government officials and executives from Telkom and Satelindo
will register today the orbital slots for the Palapa-D1 and
Palapa-D2 with the International Telecommunications Union in
Geneva.
"The Palapa-D1 will orbit at 108 degrees east longitude,
replacing the Palapa-B2R currently in operation, while the
Palapa-D2 will replace the Palapa-B4 which orbits at 118 degrees
east longitude," he said.
The Palapa-B2R is expected to end its operation in March 1998
and Palapa-B4 in April 2003.
Djakaria said the team expects to report its registration
results on Friday. (icn)