Mobile-8, Samsung electronics to build telecommunication networks

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Telecommunication company Mobile-8 and Samsung Electronics have signed a cooperation agreement to develop telecommunication networks in many regions in Indonesia, a spokesperson said.

"Mobile-8 will invest US$375 million in the project," Mobile-8 Senior President/Finance and Procurement Head Sintawati Halim said here Monday.

The investment will be made in stages beginning this year until 2012, she said.

Hopefully, the cooperation will increase the number of Mobile-8 subscribers to 20 million by 2012 in and outside Java, she said.

"Mobile-8 will embark on the construction of new infrastructure in the first quarter of this year. We are optimistic that the project will be completed on time and will raise the number of our subscribers by four million by the end of this year," she said.

Sintawati expressed hope that the cooperation with Samsung Electronics will expand the Mobile-8 service area on Java and Bali islands from 70 percent in 2006 to 90 percent in 2007 as well as from 42 percent in 2006 to 70 percent in 2007 around the country.