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)