Satellite pact signed

Satellite pact signed

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Telekom Malaysia Bhd. signed an agreement with seven foreign telecom companies and agencies yesterday to set up a satellite communications network for aircraft, called Skyways Alliance, by year's end.

The network will help provide "global aeronautical satellite service" to airlines and general aviation customers, Telekom said in a statement.

The state-owned telecom company said other participants of the network were Communications Authority of Thailand, COMSAT Mobile Communications of the United States, Indosat of Indonesia, KDD of Japan, Korea Telecom, Philippine Long Distance Telephone and Telecom Italia of Italy.

Taiwan's International Telecom Authority was expected to join the network later, Telekom said.