ITU acknowledges RP's needs for orbital slots
ITU acknowledges RP's needs for orbital slots
MANILA (AFP): The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) acknowledged yesterday the Philippines' application for five orbital slots for a satellite it aims to launch in 1996.
Communications Department Undersecretary Josefina Lichauco said the head of ITU's space service division called her office yesterday to acknowledge receipt of the Philippines' application for the slots to be used for the country's first satellite.
Lichauco said this meant that "our requests have already been included in the ITU database for September and October" and the highest governing body processing the satellite applications of countries was expected to announce this to the global community in November.
The orbital slots will be used for a satellite targeted for launching in 1996 by the Agila consortium, which is composed of 16 local telecommunications firms.
"When the document is issued, then other interested administrations (foreign governments) can file their desire to coordinate with us on this matter. That's why I don't think two years is too short a time for the launching of our own satellite," Lichauco told AFP.
She was referring to allegations by a rival consortium led by dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. that the satellite launching would not meet its timetable because Manila has not yet made an application to the ITU.
Transportation Secretary Jesus Garcia on Thursday urged the two rival groups to merge in order to strengthen the Philippines competitiveness with other Asian firms.
Lichauco also emphasized that the Philippines would benefit from its own satellite in the long term
"It's good to have orbital slots so we can have bargaining positions for future satellites," she said, citing the Philippines' strategic location in Asia as a major advantage for the country.
"The Indonesians and Chinese realized that, that is why they are proposing that the regional (satellite) system be established in the Philippines," Lichauco said.