Telecommunications industry wide open for development

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The telecommunications industry in Indonesia is still open to further development, both in terms of technology and public service.

"Many investors are still keenly interested in the development of the telecommunications industry in Indonesia, in view of its still low penetration and teledensity compared to these aspects in other countries, especialy in South East Asia," President Director of Smart Telecom, Sutikno Wijaya said here Friday.

For these reasons, he said during the launching of Smart Telecom, Sinar Mas group expressed interest in doing business in the telecommunications business by providing cellular services.

"In providing its services, Smart is supported by the CDMA 20001X and EVDO-Rev A technology at 1900 MHz. The choice for the technology is based on comprehensive business considerations and calculation," he said.

The application of the technology, he said, is prompted by a wish to provide quality and affordable communications services to the public.

"With the cellular license that we already have, we have opened services in several major cities in Java, including Jakarta, Bandung, Bogor, Cirebon, Surabaya, Malang, Semarang, and Yogyakarta," he said.

In the meantime, Director of Smart Telecom Ubaidillah Fatah said that in providing quality services, Smart planned to build 1,500 BTS facilities at a cost of Rp3 trillion.

"We are trying to act fast to secure one million subscribers this year. For Yogyakarta and environs we are trying to secure 100,000 subscribers," he said.

He also disclosed that for 2008, Smart is drawing up a plan to provide services to Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, and later to Maluku and even Papua," he said.

In the meantime, Deputy CEO of Smart Telecom Djoko Tata Ibrahim said that Smart wished to give a differentiation in setting tariffs as transparent operator, and launch promotions nearer to the market.

"In this context we will offer various bundling handset packages at Rp 300,000 as the cheapest, and this low price is expected a much wider segment of the public will enjoy celluar services," he said.