S'pore plans to launch own satellites by 1999

S'pore plans to launch own satellites by 1999

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore, in a bid to catch up with its Southeast Asian neighbors, has asked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to reserve six satellite slots in space, a Singapore newspaper said yesterday.

The Sunday Times, quoting Telecommunications Authority of Singapore (TAS) officials, said Singapore hopes to launch its first communication satellites by 1999.

"We are confident that Singapore will join the rank of satellite owners in the not too distant future," TAS director Lim Choon Sai was quoted as telling the newspaper, adding that several parties were studying the feasibility of operating the satellites.

Three other southeast Asian countries are also setting up geostationary satellite networks. Topping the list is Thailand with 12 satellites applied for and either launched or in the various stages of the approval process.

Indonesia has 11 and Malaysia two slots applied for, some of which are already in use.

Singapore has applied for three orbital slots, known as a geostationary orbits, 22,235 miles (35,576 km) above the Equator, the newspaper reported.

Another slot is over Singapore and the remaining two over the Indian Ocean. The slot above the Equator is considered an ideal spot to park a satellite.

The planned satellites will have channels which can redirect television shows, telephone and telegraphic and other communications to vast areas over Asia, the newspaper said.

"Though there is very little domestic need for satellite communications in Singapore, we do require good and efficient telecommunications with other countries because of our extensive trade activities," Lim said.

According to the newspaper, ITU records showed 894 geostationary satellites have been activated, were about to be activated or were in the process of getting permission to be sent up.

But ITU officials were quoted by the newspaper as saying not everyone who wants to place a satellite in geostationary orbit can be accommodated because of the danger of collisions and frequency interference.