The satellite was launched on schedule at the Jupiter Control Center, Guiana Space Center. Following the count-down at 4:39, the rocket launcher Ariane 5 blasted off of the launch pad, carrying the Telkom 3S satellite to its orbital slot at the 118 degrees eastern longitude.
The launch of the satellite was witnessed by PT Telkomunikasi Indonesias President Director Alex J. Sinaga; a number of members of the board of directors and commissioners of Telkom; representatives of the ministry of informatics and communications; and the ministry of state-owned enterprises.
"Its fantastic, congratulations to Thales and Arianespace for their hard work," Alex said in his remarks after the launch of the satellite.
He said that the Telkom 3S is expected to increase the capacity and quality of the Internet services in Indonesia.
The US$215 million worth satellite carries 24 C-band, eight extended C-band, and 10 Ku-band transponders, which intends to provide high-definition television services, faster mobile communications and Internet applications across the sprawling archipelago of over than 17,000 islands.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
