Soeharto inaugurates telecommunications projects
Soeharto inaugurates telecommunications projects
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said on Monday that Indonesia
aims to achieve self-reliance in science and technology,
including the telecommunications industry, during its upcoming
take-off period.
"We do not want to continue to be mere consumers of foreign
science and importers of technology from other countries. We wish
to be self-reliant," he said in a ceremony to dedicate
telecommunications projects in Bandung, West Java, on Monday.
The projects include a college for telecommunications
technology, a new headquarters building for PT Inti, the state-
owned telecommunications equipment manufacturer, as well as
telephone facilities in various parts of the country, which have
been established with total investments of almost Rp 2 trillion
(US$932.4 million). The telephone facilities comprise exchanges
in 175 locations with a total capacity of over 800,000 lines,
transmission networks in Sumatra and Java with a combined
capacity of almost 30,000 lines and small exchanges with a total
capacity of 2,500 lines.
Soeharto said Indonesians are committed to developing science
and technology in order to improve their welfare, civilization
and competitiveness.
The ceremony was attended by Mrs. Tien Soeharto, Minister of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave, Minister of
Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro and State Minister of
Population Haryono Suyono.
Technologies
Joop said that Indonesia has adopted advanced technology for
its telecommunications facilities to improve services.
"We are upgrading service by adopting advanced technologies
because science and technology is developing so fast, and
customers are becoming more critical in their demands for better
quality services," he said.
He said Indonesia, for example, has used satellites, submarine
and optic fiber cables, microwave communications systems and
integrated-service digital networks in its telecommunications
system.
Soeharto said the new college for telecommunications
technology will produce highly skilled professional personnel.
"I hope the college can also be used to educate people from
other developing countries to become experts in
telecommunications technology under the South-South cooperation
scheme," said Soeharto, who is also chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement which groups 108 developing nations.
The President said the country, which presently possesses some
three million telephone lines, will establish five million more
in the coming five years.
"But because the government cannot provide all the funds for
telecommunications development, it is inviting private sector
companies to take part," he said.
The government operates PT Telkom to provide domestic
telecommunications services, PT Indosat to provide international
telecommunications services and PT Inti to manufacture
telecommunications equipment.
Private companies have been involved in the telecommunications
industry through establishing joint venture companies with Telkom
and Indosat. (riz)