Noisy Satellite Orbit, Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Mahfud MD Calls Minister Of Communication And Information Johny G. Plate

Mahfud MD/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government will continue to make maximum efforts to save the Orbit Satellite Slot 123 East Longitude for the benefit of national defense.

"During the process of completing contracts with various parties, the Government succeeded in extending the validity period of satellite orbits in 2018 at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) session," Mahfud said in his statement, in Jakarta, Monday, January 17.

Then, continued Mahfud, he got another extension from ITU until 2024, but with a note that there must be certainty, that in 2024 the orbital slot is completely filled with satellites.

Therefore, said Mahfud, in the near future the Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G Plate was invited to ITU again to ensure that Indonesia would still use and who, and how, would fill the orbital slot.

"So, we are bringing this issue to the legal realm through in-depth and repeated discussions, until the time comes for us to stop discussing endlessly and ask BPKP to conduct an audit. As a result, it must be brought to court," Mahfud said. .

Currently, Mahfud explained, the government is planning a new effort to maintain orbital slot 123 east longitude before the ITU session.

"We are currently scheduling efforts to maintain orbital slot 123 east longitude in front of the ITU session," he said.

It is known that the procurement of the Defense Communications Satellite (Satkomhan) of the Ministry of Defense in 2015-2016 was suspected of violating the law because it was detrimental to state finances.

The government also asked the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) to conduct a Specific Purpose Audit (ATT) related to the procurement of the 123 East Longitude Orbit Satellite at the Ministry of Defense.