Indonesia enters ISDN era

Indonesia enters ISDN era

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday launched the
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), locally called
Pasopati, by conducting long-distant videophone conversations
with two officials and a legislator.

"I'm happy to be able to launch Pasopati and have a 'face-to-
face' conversation (with you) this morning," Soeharto told
Wahono, speaker of the House of Representatives, during a
videophone conversation using ISDN facilities.

ISDN is a new digital integrated network, which accommodates
all telecommunications needs, in the forms of data, sound and
pictures. The new telecommunications services are provided
jointly by state-run international telecommunications operator PT
Indosat and state-owned domestic telecommunications firm PT
Telkom.

Indosat and Telkom are currently introducing seven
applications of the ISDN, high-speed facsimiles called Group-4
Faxes, digital telephones, videophones, multimedia terminals,
switched digital backups, personal computer cards and terminal
adapters.

From the Bina Graha presidential office, Soeharto also
conversed with East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman in Surabaya,
East Java, and Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Wisber Louis in
Tokyo.

"Now we can interact each other directly. We not only hear
sound, but also see each other's faces," Soeharto told Basofi.

"Yes, Bapak President. If normally I wear only a T-shirt,
today I have to wear good clothes," Basofi joked.

"Thank you. I think, not necessarily good, tidy is enough,"
Soeharto responded.

Soeharto also asked Basofi about his recent trip to Brunei and
the local climate, as well as about the farming conditions in
East Java, especially the promotion of urea-tablet fertilizer
among farmers there.

When calling Wisber Louis, Soeharto asked the time and about
conditions in Tokyo. "I heard there are a number of banks which
face difficulties, is it true?"

"Yes," Wisber said.

"So, not only in Indonesia. This should be studied to enrich
the nation's experience," Soeharto said.

After having videophone conversations, Soeharto received a
facsimile message of congratulations sent through the ISDN
facilities by Basofi.

Indosat's president, Tjahyono Soerjodibroto, said the
launching of ISDN services is meant to introduce and develop
telecommunications high technology rather than looking for
profits. The launching of the ISDN is expected to help facilitate
communications of business people involved in global networks.

"For Indosat, the launching of this product serves as a very
good move, on how to provide telecommunications facilities which
become 'trends' in developed countries," Tjahyono said.

Indosat, as international telecommunications operator, has
interconnected ISDN signaling facilities with ISDN user parts
abroad from early this year.

For the time being, Indosat has interconnections with five
countries, the United States, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and
Belgium. The company targets that next year it will have
installed ISDN interconnections with 14 countries.

Setyanto P. Santosa, president of Telkom, said ISDN facilities
will be offered to the public beginning in October. Indosat and
Telkom have allocated Rp 24 billion (US$10.6 million) for 2,000
terminals for 2,000 customers. He said each terminal will cost
customers between Rp 4 million (US$1,765) to Rp 10 million. (rid)