PT Telkom looks for Palapa-B5 manufacturer
PT Telkom looks for Palapa-B5 manufacturer
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) will later this year invite leading satellite manufacturers to bid on the construction of the Palapa-B5 satellite to be launched in 1999.
Telkom's president, Setyanto P. Santosa, told The Jakarta Post over the weekend that the Palapa-B5 satellite project began last year when the government allowed the company to operate its own satellites again after handing its previous satellite business to PT Satelindo in 1993.
Telkom owns and operates the Palapa-A and Palapa-B series satellites. Satelindo, which is partly owned by a private firm, is licensed to own and operate Palapa-C generation satellites. Satelindo plans to launch a Palapa-C2 satellite in May, after launching its Palapa-C1 last January.
There are two Palapa-A and five Palapa-B series satellites. Telkom currently operates the Palapa-B2R which orbits along 108- degrees east longitude, and the Palapa-B4 which orbits along 118- degrees east longitude. Palapa-B2R is estimated to end its operation in March 1998, and Palapa-B4 will end in April 2003.
Setyanto said that instead of an open tender, Telkom will invite leading satellite manufacturers to bid for the Palapa-B5 project.
"We hope to finalize the study of the Palapa-B5 project this year," he said.
Like the Palapa-A and Palapa-B series satellites, the Palapa-C generation was manufactured by the Hughes Space and Communications Company of the United States.
Each of the HS-333 type Palapa-A satellites has 12 transponders, giving the satellites an average capacity of 6,000 voice circuits or 12 simultaneous color television channels or any combination of the two. The satellites, which have a seven- year lifespan, are 3.5-meters high (including antenna) and 1.9- meters wide.
The HS-376 type Palapa-B satellites have two telescoping cylindrical solar panels. Each of the satellite's 24 transponders are each capable of carrying 1,000 two-way voice circuits or a single color television transmission. In addition, a Palapa-B satellite carries six spare traveling-wave tube amplifiers, providing a five-to-four redundancy.
The Palapa-C series have better coverage, power and flexibility than the earlier Palapa-A and Palapa-B satellites.
Each of the HS-601 body-stabilized Palapa-C satellites has 34 transponders, made up of 24 C-band, six extended C-band and four of Ku-band, It has a lifespan of about 14 years (plus two years in inclined orbit), and will cover not only Indonesia but also Southeast Asia, and parts of China, India and Japan.
With the Pacific Rim as its center, the Palapa-C1 coverage extends westwards from Iran to Vladivostok and southwards to Sydney and New Zealand.
Competition
"Hughes has been Indonesia's longstanding partner in making satellites, but it doesn't mean that Hughes will automatically be awarded the Palapa-B5," Setyanto said.
Indonesia has allowed two other firms to participate in its satellite industry. Last year, Jakarta-based PT Asia Cellular Satellite System (ACeS) granted a US$1 billion contract to U.S. defense-contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation to manufacture a region-wide cellular telecommunications system with orbiting satellites.
ACeS, owned by PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara of Indonesia, Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co. and Jasmine International Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand, will operate a telecommunications system using geostationary satellites to be called Garuda.
Meanwhile, PT Media Citra Indostar, a subsidiary of PT Matahari Lintas Cakrawala, has ordered Indostar satellites from the U.S. aerospace firm CTA for a direct broadcast system.
Setyanto said between four and seven leading satellite manufacturers are in the running to manufacture Indonesia's satellites.
In addition to Hughes, Lockheed Martin and CTA, there are several other space orbiter developers, such as Space System/Loral, Matra Marconi Space, Aerospatiale and ISRO.
Setyanto said Telkom will likely operate the Palapa-B5 satellite to support its network. He indicated that Telkom will not lease the satellite's transponders to any other parties.
The Palapa-B4 and Palapa-C1 satellites are mainly used by television broadcasters from Indonesia, the United States, Australia, Brunei, France, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
Launcher
Telkom's plan to launch its new satellite by 1999 has encouraged the world's major satellite launching companies to approach the company.
The world's leading launch vehicle manufacturers include Arianespace, a European consortium based in France, and Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas of the United States.
Arianespace's area sales manager, Philippe Berterottiere, was recently in Jakarta to meet with executives from PSN and Telkom.
"We discussed the launching business," he told the Post.
Arianespace, the manufacturer of Ariane rockets, has entered an advanced development phase with its Ariane 5. Lockheed Martin, well-known for its Atlas rocket, is also in the advanced stage of development with its Atlas IIAR. McDonnell Douglas builds Delta rockets. (icn)