Satellite Decision

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 12

Satellite Decision

The Government has at last set a deadline for New Zealand’s active participation in the global communication system operated by Intelsat—the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium, which now includes 61 countries. The Cabinet’s acceptance of a proposal for the construction of an eat th station, recommended by the Post Office at the beginning of January, has ended an unduly long hesitation over this development in communications, the value of which has been convincingly demonstrated. The Postmaster-General (Mr Scott) expects the station to be functioning by the end of 1970, opening for New Zealand viewers the prospect of a regular exchange of television programmes with countries where Telesat installations are already functioning.

When it is considered that stations linked to a satellite over the Pacific Ocean—a member of the Telesat family—which New Zealand will also use, are currently working in Hawaii, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, and Australia, the Government’s reluctance to act earlier is hard to understand. It has already cost something more than $600,000 merely to preserve this country’s right of active participation in the network. It is high time that New Zealand secured some practical advantage from membership of the consortium. As Mr Scott has explained, the satellite service will not supplant the present cable service, which at peak periods is unabir to cope with the traffic offering. Indeed, there may still be a need for expansion of the cable system, which would free the satellite system to a useful extent for a broadly-planned exchange of television features. These exchanges, it may be supposed, will become as common in future as direct radio links are today—and the demand for them will increase as soon as the transmission of coloured pictures becomes technically and commercially attractive.

The New Zealand Post Office and Broadcasting Corporation, now that New Zealand is firmly committed to the satellite network, can plan for their entry into the “ satellite era ”, more than two years ahead. By then a new generation of satellites, capable of giving a full world coverage, will have been in operation about 18 months. New Zealand will be able to take full advantage of the exciting prospects now opening up.