The use of satellite communication for national integration in Indonesia

Date

3-1995

Abstract

This stud tried to find out the extent to which communication satellite can achieve national integration in Indonesia; to identify the factors affecting the use of communication satellite for national integration; and to determine the problems or constraints in using communication satellite for national integration in the country.

Data were gathered from 433 respondents consisting of five policy makers, seven implementors, and 421 users using in-depth interview guide, interview schedule, and content analysis of data from three sources: literature search, documentation, and field survey.

The study found that Palapa satellite communication has successfully contributed toward achieving national integration in Indonesia in terms of political, social and cultural, economic and national defense unity.

On political unity, Palapa satellite contributed to politico-education, political campaign for general elections, and established close relationship between central government and local governments. In terms of social and cultural unity, it promoted local culture and national language to strengthen national pride in Indonesian cultural heritage. It also promoted tolerance in religion and implemented democratization of education through distance learning. For economic unity, it contributed to Indonesian economic progress and stabilized and integrated market prices. Regarding unity in national defense, Palapa satellite supported military activities to protect national sovereignty and maintain internal security affairs.

This study also found a number of factors which could affect the use of satellite communication for national integration in the country: unequal distribution of communication facilities, a purely economic orientation of telecommunication, information imbalance and competitive media industry.

Other factors also identified as constraints to achieving national integration include: the geographical nature of Indonesia which necessitates the installation of hundreds of earth stations, link stations and radio transmitters to connect 17,508 islands of the country: technical constraints in Palapa operation: lack of quality programs: lack of skilled manpower; and financial constraints particularly to support the implementation of various social development projects.

Based on its findings, this study identified a number of communication policy implications on the use of communication satellite for national integration in Indonesia. These implications relate to national integration in Indonesia. These implications relate to national ideology and political participation, national language, open sky policy, economic unity, national defense, disparity of telecommunication facility, urban orientation of telecommunication services, business oriented and social development programs, information imbalance, competitive media industry, broadcast material production, time slot use and community participation.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Development Communication

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Ely D. Gomez

Committee Member

Alexander G. Flor, Madeline M. Suva, Pura T. Depositario

Language

English

LC Subject

Artificial satellite in telecommunication--Indonesia

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 1995 D46 C35

Notes

Doctor of Philosophy (Development Communication)

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