Braving the Challenge of Satellite Technologies: National Breakthroughs and Indonesia’s Role in International Forums

At the time INTELSAT made available for the first time reliable international satellite communication in the 1960's, Indonesia made a wise decision to join the Consortium of Satellite-Using Nations, notwithstanding the economic hardships it posed to participate. Later in the 1970's, the launch of Indonesia's Palapa domestic satellite was a breakthrough technology for addressing isolated areas, and triggering business activities. Indonesia had crucial decisions to make during ITU's WARC-ORB 1985 and 1987 regulatory deliberations in the interest of the global community and its own national interest. In cooperation with other Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operators, Indonesia obtained an endorsement at WRC-95 for improving the fragmented MSS bands, and helped achieve an additional allocation at WRC-2003. Indonesia took part in the ITU sponsored deliberations on GMPCS (Satellite Mobile Communication), and assisted emerging non-geostationary satellite systems, such LEOs and MEOs, at WRC forums in getting their spectrum allocation. In 2004, Indonesia is experiencing its initial stage of DTH (Direct-to-home) satellite broadcasts using Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS). More widespread use of terresterial means in Indonesia’s telecommunications scene will cause a shift in the application of satellite technologies.