PT Asatel launches satellite-based services
JAKARTA (JP): Privately owned PT Asatel Global Komunikasi has launched Planet-1, a satellite-based telecommunications service, in Indonesia in cooperation with state-owned PT Indosat.
Company general manager for operations, Marcellus Liman, said yesterday the new service would be available through Inmarsat satellite networks on the geostationary orbit.
"The services include facsimile, data, voice communications and Internet used on smaller terminals like notebooks from any point on land, sea or in the air throughout the world which do not have any fixed telephone lines or which is not covered by a cellular system," Asatel's president David Simbar said.
Planet-1 will network with cellular systems, offering seamless roaming via a global network of earth stations which serve as gateways to the International Maritime Satellite's (Inmarsat) satellite system and wireless networks.
Liman said Planet-1 was developed by a consortium of Design Continuum and Comsat of the United States and NEC of Japan.
He said Asatel Global Komunikasi had only invested in the billing system worth Rp 3 billion as Planet-1 networks and services was developed by the overseas consortium.
Asatel is a private firm owned by the Risjad Group of businessman Ibrahim Risjad and Infoasia Group of Simbar.
Inmarsat has also introduced a satellite-based telecommunications service called Geo-7, which is provided in Indonesia by Indosat.
Indosat, which has a stake in Inmarsat, has its main earth station, including seven giant antennas, in Jatiluhur, West Java. Indosat also controls Inmarsat's satellite in geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean region, one of Inmarsat's four major coverage areas. The others include the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean West and Atlantic Ocean East regions.
Liman refused to reveal how much his company would share its revenues from Planet-1 with Indosat.
He said a portable terminal for the service cost about US$5,000, while call charges would follow government regulation. Charges for the Planet-1 system for calls made from Indonesia started at $2.4 a minute, he added. (icn)