Dr. Bennettasked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the establishment of a Commonwealth telecommunications satellite system as against a global telephone cable costing £100 million; in particular, how the capacities, flexibility of use and cost compare; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BevinsIt is too early to be sure about the part that satellite communications could take in the future development of the Commonwealth telecommunications system, or to attempt a comparison between the capacity, flexibility190W and cost of a satellite system and a telephone cable system, but the potentialities of satellites for intra-Commonwealth telecommunications are being carefully studied. The evidence so far suggests that cable and satellite systems are likely to be complementary rather than competitive.