On satellite imaging

This is in response to the article published on March 14, 2001 entitled New satellite imaging intruding into privacy. It mentioned an urgent need for new laws to regulate high resolution imaging satellites because they are unfair to less developed countries.

As the number one distributor of Carterra(R) 1-meter satellite images in Indonesia, our company has a different view on this matter. The commercial availability of this product gives customers in developing countries access to the kind of images that were only available exclusively to the intelligence community of developed nations just a few years ago. Certainly this has leveled the playing field, since any country can buy pictures of any other country for a relatively small price (US$6,000 minimum order).

This being said, it has been our experience that our customers in Indonesia have all purchased images of their own property, mostly for managing their facilities, though also for planning purposes. If the government tries to regulate or restrict this business, these customers will simply buy the same pictures from distributors in Singapore or Malaysia, thus rendering any such regulations ineffective. Please e-mail any questions about Carterra products to: alan@transavia.co.id.

ALAN GERBER

PT Transavia Informatika Pratama