Telecommunications development in Indonesia

In Indonesia, these uncertainties coupled with difficult geography lead us to suggest serious consideration of the use of a satellite communications system designed in a manner to minimize growth problems and to provide a maximum of flexibility in serving a wide range of earth stations. Such a system could be initiated with the lease of an INTELSAT IV spot beam transponder, assuming no legal or political obstacles to such a lease. The spot beam is to be preferred over the global beam because of its greater circuit capacity and because a later switch to a domestic satellite could be made without changing earth station parameters of performance (only the antenna needs repositioning). The INTELSAT global beam transponder could be considered for initial use if there were no concern with the implementation of small "telephone booth" stations for isolated industry use. The low power of the global beam makes these small stations unduly expensive. The satellite system, started with INTELSAT IV, can at a later date make use of a second INTELSAT IV transponder for TV distribution. As a system use increases, or as more users request service, the shift to a dedicated satellite can be made without transients. The high capital investment in a domestic satellite does not have to be carried during the initial phases of the system implementation when traffic will be light.