(1)
NSN Wins Indonesian 3G
Network Upgrade Contract
Indonesia's Indosat has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to provide
GSM and 3G mobile broadband infrastructure and services to deliver mobile
services in 900Mhz in Central and East Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan.
The new 3G service became available in Bukit Tinggi and Padang in
West Sumatra on October 6, with the remaining regions across Central & East
Java, Kalimantan and Sumatra coming up soon.
NSN described the contract as
"significant" but did not disclose the financial size of the
contract.
Siemens Networks will also
modernize Indosat's GSM and 3G networks. The company will be Indosat's
exclusive vendor for radio access network (RAN) modernization in Central and
East Java, Kalimantan and Sumatra.
By implementing the Single RAN and Flexi Multiradio 10 Base
Station, WCDMA and GSM services share a common platform which allows each pair
of technologies to be delivered by a single radio module.
"With Indonesia's first 3G 900 network in West Sumatra, our
users can enjoy greater coverage, faster data speeds, as well as high quality
voice and data services. For example, HSPA coverage in rural areas and indoor
coverage in urban areas will be greatly improved", said Hans C. Moritz,
director and chief technology officer at Indosat.
As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks is also upgrading its
NetAct network management system to enable consolidated and effective
monitoring, management and optimization of Indosat's GSM and 3G networks.
(2) Indonesia plane lands at Tabing not Padang
Indonesian
officials have suspended a foreign pilot and launched an investigation after a
passenger jet landed at the wrong airport.
The
Sriwijaya Air jet had about 100 people on board when it took off on Saturday
from Medan in northern Sumatra headed for the city of Padang. However, it
landed at the Tabing air force base, 12 km (seven miles) from its destination. Indonesian
officials said air safety practices would be investigated.
It
is not known why the pilot chose to land at the wrong airport - only that he
was in contact with the air traffic control at Minangkabau airport in Padang.
An investigation by the Indonesian
aviation safety watchdog has been launched with air traffic control
authorities.
Indonesia has a chequered history of
aviation safety, although efforts have been made to improve standards over the
last few years, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani reports from Jakarta.
Indonesia's transport ministry says the
96 passengers on board were never in any danger.
According to our correspondent, the
ministry's spokesman said the landing was entirely normal - except for the fact
that it was at the wrong airport.
(3)
Padang to Issue Bylaw
Banning Adultery
The Padang chapter of the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) have said
that they support the local government’s plan to issue a bylaw banning adultery.
According to MUI Padang head Duski Samad, the bylaw draft has been
deliberated by the Padang Legislative Council (DPRD) to be issued soon.
“We will support DPRD Padang in passing this regulation as it will
represent a serious effort by the government to eradicate immoral acts,” Duski
said as quoted by Antara news agency on Monday.
According to him, with such a bylaw in place the Public Order Agency
(Satpol PP) will have the legal foundation to take action against immorality by
eradicating adultery in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra.
Duski claims that society has failed to filter out globalization’s
effects and therefore the government needs to issue regulations in order to
deter perpetrators.
The head of DPRD Padang, Jhon Roza Syaukani, says that the aim of the
ordinance is to reduce occurrences of adultery in the city.
“This bylaw is to support the vision and mission of Padang city as
portraying itself as a safe and prosperous metropolis,” Jhon said.
The earlier draft stipulated that violators of the regulation should be
rehabilitated after being sanctioned. The sanction itself remains unclear, but
the bylaw obliges the government to build a rehabilitation facility.
It also stated that eradicating adultery is part of an effort to
preserve and implement the norms of Pancasila, Indonesia’s state ideology, as
well as upholding the sanctity of marriage as an institution.
(4) Padang goodwill visit by MSU students
The Management & Science University (MSU) recently organised a community service trip to Indonesia through its Kelab Penyayang MSU.
About 40 students took part in the visit
called "Journey to West Sumatra -- Remembrance of Padang".
It was organised by the MSU Student &
Career Development Department, and lasted six days and five nights.
The trip was a follow-up to previous
visits called "Pandanglah Padang 1" and "Pandanglah Padang
2", conducted in 2009 and 2010 following the earthquakes that hit the
area.
The visit was to instil good values in
students and expose them to what was happening in other countries.
On arrival at the Minangkabau
International Airport, the MSU delegation was met by representatives from
SekolahTinggi Ilmu Kesihatan Perintis Padang.
The Malaysians were taken to Kampung
Padang Alai to carry out a community service project. They held a
gotong-royong, provided free health checks and joined residents in preparing a
sumptuous feast.
The delegation also brought joy to
children in their visit to the Asuhan Putra Darul Ma'arif Al Karimiyah
orphanage. The visitors played games, prepared food for the orphans and helped
to teach them English.
Muhammad Nurizzuwan Kasir, a final-year
student in the Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering, was in charge
of the activities.
He said the visit was an opportunity for
the students to get involved in planning and executing the community projects.
"The experience strengthened the bond
between the students. It was a humbling experience to help the needy people
that we met there."
