RI, China to coordinate satellite slots

RI, China to coordinate satellite slots

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will hold talks about satellite slots
with China later this year as the domestic Palapa-B2R satellite
is interfering with dozens of China's satellites, Minister of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave says.

He said yesterday that there are actually three Indonesian
satellites which are interfering with 14 Chinese satellites.

"We have already settled the slots of two satellites, Palapa-
B2P and Palapa-B4. The discussion about the slot of Palapa-B2R
will be held later this year in Jakarta," Joop announced after
attending a hearing with Commission V of the House of
Representative (DPR).

Palapa-B2P is orbiting in the 113 east degree and Palapa-B4 in
the 118 east degree. Palapa B2R, orbiting in the 108 east degree,
will be replaced by the Palapa C2 satellite, to be launched in
1996. Indonesia is scheduled to launch Palapa-C1 in October 1995
to replace Palapa-B2P and to operate until 2003.

Joop said that the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU), which is currently holding its annual conference in Tokyo,
is challenged to improve its position as the only board concerned
with satellite interference.

He said Indonesia will also hold talks with the United States,
South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Japan for similar purposes.

Joop told the commission, which deals with telecommunications,
transportation and tourism, that China has a wide opportunity to
launch Palapa-C2.

"We have to study about the Chinese Long March-3b rocket to
find out whether it is appropriate to carry the 3,000-kilogram
Palapa-C series," he said.

The president of PT Satelindo, the owner of Palapa-C
satellites, Iwa Sewaka, said last month that six overseas firms
have submitted applications to the government offering to launch
the Palapa-C2 satellite which is scheduled for orbit within the
next two years.

The six firms include Krunichev-Lockheed, a consortium of
Russian and U.S. firms, Arianespace, a European consortium, and
two American firms -- General Dynamics and McDonnell Douglas. The
other two companies are from China and Japan. Arianespace will
launch the Hughes-built Palapa-C1.(icn)