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)