Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) is wasting no time in developing additional services and promoting itself, several months in advance of the planned launch of its commercial service.

ACeS has joined PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara [PSNRY], its largest shareholder, and Nera ASA, a Norwegian developer and supplier of wireless equipment, in developing a data communications gateway and a medium-speed mobile data terminal for use on ACeS’s Garuda 1 satellite.

The lightweight terminal will be capable of 128 kilobits per second, the companies said. They plan to introduce the data service next year or in 2002, with Nera supplying the terminals through its existing Asian distributors.

“We are extremely pleased to work with Nera to develop the next-generation of ACeS services and capabilities,” said Adi Adiwoso, president of both ACeS and PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara. “Medium-speed data rates for ACeS will further enhance mobile telecommunications services for all ACeS subscribers throughout Asia.”