U.S.'s Odyssey plans alliance in Indonesia
U.S.'s Odyssey plans alliance in Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): Odyssey Telecommunications International Inc., a
satellite telecommunications company set up by TRW of the United
States and Teleglobe of Canada, is seeking a partner in Indonesia
with which to operate a global telecommunications system.
Odyssey's director, Peter D. Stenzel, said here yesterday that
the company is constructing a satellite-based mobile
communication system, called Odyssey, to provide communications
services to subscribers around the globe by 1999.
"We will operate just 12 satellites in the medium-earth orbit
and seven earth stations. The first satellite will be launched in
1999," he said, adding that by June 2000 six satellites are
expected to be in orbit.
The remainder of the 12 satellites will be in orbit by early
2001, he said.
He said that his company expects to attract 400,000
subscribers by the end of 2000 and some nine million subscribers
by 2010.
"Indonesia is one of the major markets in the Asia-Pacific
region after China and India," he said.
"We are still negotiating with some private firms which will
be the Odyssey operator in Indonesia. We will hopefully be able
to announce the partner by the end of this year," he added.
Another global satellite telecommunications operator,
Globalstar of the U.S., is also looking for a partner in
Indonesia to operate its system. Globalstar, which will use 48
satellites, expects to launch its first four satellites in mid-
1997, and aims to commence commercial operations in 1998.
The Odyssey system, involving an investment of US$2 billion,
will use medium-earth orbits for its satellites, while Globalstar
will use low-earth orbits. Both projects are satellite-based
digital telecommunications systems which will offer wireless
telephone and other telecommunications services worldwide.
In addition to Globalstar and Odyssey, the International
Maritime Satellite (Inmarsat) is planning a similar project,
called Inmarsat P, which will use 10 satellites. America's
Motorola also plans to develop a global system, at a cost of $4
billion, using 66 satellites.
A consortium of Indonesian, Filipino and Thai firms is also
working on a satellite-based Asian telecommunications system, to
be called the Asian Cellular Satellite System. (icn)