East Timor Transitional Administration (ETTA)
"Build, Operate and Transfer" of a Complete Telecommunication System in the Territory of East Timor
ITPT regrets that the publication of the Telecommunications Policy Paper and the Information Memorandum have not yet been published. Both documents will shortly be available on this website.
Call for Expressions of Interest - Briefing notes
The information contained in these briefing notes is provided for advisory purposes only and cannot be assumed to present a complete description of all factors relevant to an interested party's participation in the tender process. Although believed to be accurate at the time and within the context in which it is provided, ETTA makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in these briefing notes and expressly disclaims all liability, direct or indirect, associated with it. Each interested party is therefore individually responsible for the investigation, analysis and evaluation of all matters that it, in its sole discretion, considers relevant to its determination to submit an Expression of Interest or to participate in any tender process relating to the subject matter of these briefing notes.
It should also be noted that East Timor is currently under the administration of the United Nations. The mandate of the United Nations during its period of administration of East Timor includes the rehabilitation and development of essential infrastructure as well as the establishment of an effective interim administration and capacities for future self-government. However, economic, political and other public policy and related considerations affecting the telecommunications sector, as well as additional factors otherwise directly or indirectly associated with the subject matter of these briefing notes, may be subject to future review and re-determination by the East Timorese institutions of self-rule following the transition from the United Nations' administration.
1 INTRODUCTION
Post consultation violence in East Timor in the first days of September 1999 resulted in severe upheaval in both governance and in the infrastructure of the whole country. Communications facilities ceased to exist, and with the exception of the steel towers, some in ground cables and the EWSD telephone exchange in Dili, practically all other telecommunications electronic assets were decimated.
ETTA is looking towards providing for East Timor a modern sustainable telecommunications system. The system to be proposed should be able to be operated and maintained with the minimum of effort.
2 INVITATION
This invitation for Expression of Interest concerns the delivery of equipment for the Telecommunications system in East Timor. It includes the following sub-systems:
2.1 CELLULAR MOBILE SYSTEM (GSM)
The system will be operated as an independent East Timor system using the country code for East Timor (670) with its own charging and billing system.
2.2 INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY (IGF)
The electronic switch now in place is capable of incorporating the IGF function, however, in its present architecture, this function is not included.
2.3 A TELEPHONE SWITCHING PLATFORM
The EWSD in Dili is configured for something of the order of 15,000 lines (it is the responsibility of Interested companies to verify this figure). Besides the National Capital Dili there are 12 district capitals. Interested companies should also propose switching capability at each of these district capitals.
The attention of interested companies is drawn to the list of facilities in Annex A.
ETTA requires these facilities in Dili as well as in the district capitals.
2.4 A TRANSMISSION BACKBONE TO CARRY VOICE, DATA AND BROADCAST PROGRAMMES.
The transmission backbone will have to transport the following services:
- Telephone (possibly using Remote Digital Line Units)
- Mobile Service links between BTSs (Base Terminal Stations) in the districts and the BSC (Base Station Controller) in Dili
- Connections between the district capital and Dili (the EWSD exchange platform if the EWSD is to be used).
- Leased lines for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and for business and private networks.
- Operation of a Pseudo PABX,a facility of the EWSD platform.
- Delivery of National Radio and Television programmes (including possibly cable television in the future).
2.5 CUSTOMER ACCESS NETWORK (CAN)
There is no obligation to use any specific means for this connection. A hybrid method of interconnection is preferred.
3 PRINICIPAL REQUIREMENTS:
There are four principal requirements that Interested companies are required to consider.
3.1 CENTRAL BILLING
It is highly desirable that billing for customers be from one single office, in Dili. This applies not only for preparation and dispatch of accounts, but also for the collection of all tariff information. This central billing and accounting applies to local tariff, mobile tariff and international tariff.
3.2 EQUIPMENT TYPES
Interested companies should where possible use the same technology for similar equipment, thus reducing to a minimum the equipment types throughout the territory.
3.3 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
The operations and maintenance centre (O & M) should be located in Dili. From this central O & M centre all the operational transactions, including all alarm and telemetry functions should be conducted.
3.4 TRAINING
Training of local staff is expected, in addition, re-employment of local staff that was previously employed by the telecommunications operators is also expected.
4 OBJECTIVES OF EAST TIMOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
A National Telecommunications Policy paper will be available on request by the end of September and an Information Memorandum by the middle of October.
5 SUMMARY OF ASSETS PROVIDED BY ETTA
The following assets will be made available by ETTA and Interested companies may choose to use them as part of their Proposal:
5.1 COPPER AND FIBER OPTIC CABLES IN THE GROUND.
In some areas the level of destruction might make it necessary to install a large degree of new cables. From design records on hand there are 4,400 primary pairs in 6 cables terminated on the main distribution frame (MDF) in the exchange and 4,200 secondary pairs in 7 cables extended from the extremities of the primary cables, in the Dili city area. In addition there are 5,200 additional primary cables interred, terminated on the MDF but stumped at the extremities.
5.2 THE EWSD DIGITAL ELECTRONIC SWITCH IN DILI
The Dili telephone exchange was designed and manufactured by Siemens. The current model is the EWSD with version 9 software. Companies who choose to use the EWSD switch should plan to include version 14 software (available by August 2000).
It is also suggested that the following interfaces be made available in Dili as well as the 12 district capitals:
Copper wire for analogue services (Plain Old Telephones -POTS)
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) Basic Access (Basic Rate Access - BRA with: 2b d channels)
V5.1 interface for customer equipment access
V5.2 also for customer equipment access.
ISDN Primary Rate Access (Primary Rate Access - PRA)
n x 64 Kbits
2 Mbits (Or, PRI at 30b d)
Broadband
ADSL (Asynchronous Subscriber Lines)
Note: Some of these are not available in the present EWSD. But, they can all be supported by the EWSD with addition of hardware and upgrade of software. Any alternative Switch Interface proposed should at least support these interfaces.
5.3 STEEL TOWERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR
There are 23 towers already in place. These towers may or may not be sufficient for the transmission backbone.
5.4 REAL ESTATE AND/OR EQUIPMENT (IN VARYING STATE OF DEVASTATION), BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY.
The use of real estate is discretionary. However , if a company chooses to use any or all of the real estate, he will in that case be wholly responsible for its rehabilitation, including all services, access roads, power supply, etc. If a new building or tower is to be used in a particular offer, the company will also be responsible for all aspects involved in making it operational.
5.5 POWER SUPPLY
It should be born in mind that in the initial and perhaps even in the medium term, commercial power may be available for only a few hours a day, and even during those hours there are large fluctuations in the supply voltage and frequency stability.
6 TELECOMMUNICATIONS BACKGROUND STATISTICS IN EAST TIMOR
6.1 DEMOGRAPHY
Of the estimated total of 779,568 inhabitants for the year 2000, the population distribution should be taken as follows:
| District (Capital) | Total District | District Capital | Regional |
|---|
| Ainaro (Ainaro) | 39,410 | 23,646 | 15,764 |
| Aileu (Aileu) | 33,940 | 20,364 | 13,576 |
| Baucau (Baucau) | 66,473 | 46,531 | 19,942 |
| Bobonaro (Maliana) | 69,519 | 48,663 | 20,856 |
| Dili (Dili) | 165,164 | 132,131 | 33,033 |
| Ermera (Ermera) | 76,492 | 53,544 | 22,948 |
| Cova-Lima (Suai) | 45,232 | 31,662 | 13,570 |
| Lautem (LosPalos) | 67,320 | 47,124 | 20,196 |
| Manatuto (Mantutu) | 31,743 | 19,046 | 12,697 |
| Manufahi (Same) | 40,362 | 24,271 | 16,091 |
| Viqueque (Viqueque) | 65,617 | 39,370 | 26,247 |
| Oekusi (Pante Makasar) | 38,817 | 23,290 | 15,527 |
| Liquica (Liquica) | 39,479 | 23,687 | 15,792 |
| Total | 779,568 | 533,329 | 246,239 |
(Source: Research & Census Unit - ETTA) (District Capital & Regional are estimated)
6.2 TELEDENSITY
The initial teledensity may be taken as 0.8 per 100 inhabitants for the district capitals and 4/100 in Dili and in the year 2005 it is projected to be 5/100 and 7/100 respectively. For long term guidance, the national teledensity may be regarded at 10 / 100 in 2010 and 30 / 100 by 2025.
6.3 CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT (CPE),
Suppliers may provide CPE items freely in the market, provided they meet the relevant international standards. The standards to which equipment conforms need to be clearly stated on the labels of the equipment marketed. ETTA may require statement of compliance against these standards.
6.4 MOBILE SERVICE (CONNECTION BETWEEN BASE TERMINAL STATIONS (BTS) AND BASE STATION CONTROLLER (BSC)
Mobile services are now available in Dili, Suai and partly in Baucau. However this network is an offshoot of the Australian Mobilenet. The system uses the Australian numbering scheme. This is not satisfactory in the medium to long term.
Special provisions should be made for Pante Makasar.
6.5 LEASED LINES
It is difficult to accurately forecast the volume of leased line traffic over the backbone. For example the present oil exploration studies may place a significant demand for leased lines from the south west of the territory to Dili and out of the country.
7 GENERAL RECOMMENDATION
Companies are advised to study the document "Regulation No. 2000/10 On Public Procurement for Civil Administration in East Timor" (http://www.un.org/depts/dpko) and other relevant official documents promulgated by the Government of East Timor. All such documents may be found in the "Official Gazette of East Timor".
It is recommended that Consortia should include East Timorese companies
