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)