US SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE BY (r)

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Subject: US SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE BY BURMA

Jane's Defence Weekly 
May 19, 1999 

Myanmar to set up military satellite network 

Robert Karniol JDW Asia Pacific Editor 

Myanmar (formerly Burma) intends to establish an extensive military 
satellite communications network as part of the effort to modernise 
its armed forces, sources recently in Yangon (Rangoon) have revealed 
to Jane's Defence Weekly. 
  
The Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Procurement has invited 
potential suppliers to tender for the programme's initial phase, 
involving the construction of ground stations for a Very Small 
Aperture Terminal (VSAT) system. These would be linked to a 
transponder capacity still to be leased on a commercial satellite. 
  
The first stage involves construction of a hub station in Yangon, 10 
to 15 remote stations and three to five mobile stations. This should 
eventually be expanded to some 200 remote stations that would 
provide secure voice and data links to military units throughout the 
country. 
  
The VSAT system would operate on C-Band and may include a video 
conferencing capability. An encryption system is another 
requirement. 
  
Myanmar already has a limited satellite communications capability, 
although this is ostensibly civilian-oriented as it is mainly geared 
to provide long-distance telephone services in the strategic border 
areas. A hub station was established at Thanlyn (formerly Syriam), 
near Yangon, in 1993 and 14 satellite communication terminals set up 
in remote regions. 
  
This system uses the ASIASAT satellite, owned by Hong Kong-based 
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co, with Myanmar leasing 
one-quarter of a transponder for the purpose. ASIASAT is among two 
or three commercial satellites that could be used for the planned 
military communications network. 
  
Although ASIASAT is owned and operated by a Chinese company, the 
satellite is of US origin. It is unclear how the use of US 
technology for a military communications network would be affected 
by Washington's sanctions against the Yangon regime, which include a 
ban on arms sales. 
  
- Robert Karniol JDW Asia Pacific Editor 

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