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.