Telecommunication Issues

Worry Free BlackBerry solution from AXIS

2009-07-28T13:49:00.000+07:00

BlackBerry fever is upon us. Many network operators or pro\aders are rushing to offer additional facilities and features to lure customers. Internet access seems to be the main requirement nowadays, so that is why almost all operators offer a bundling package using a sophisticated handset like the BlackBerry. However, due to the numerous bundling programs customers are often confused in selecting the appropriate package for their needs. Now, AXIS has solutions to eliminate such confusion.

AXIS is offering a superior service and data package for those who need access while traveling. Since its recent launch, the Worry Free BlackBerry from AXIS received an enthusiastic welcome from thousands of customers during the initial registration period. / The Jakarta Post, pg 18

Telecommunication Sector Increases 11 Percent

2009-07-28T13:48:00.000+07:00

PT CIMB-GK Securities Indonesia reviews that Indonesia telecommunication sector will record 11 percent year on year increasing income on 2009. It means rebound two percent compare to previous year. It was sued by President Director PT CIMB-GK Securities Indonesia Bernard Thien in Jakarta, Monday (27/7). PT CIMB-GK Securities Indonesia announced too that PT Excelcomindo Tbk (XL) has most tight balance and lost its subscriber’s price elasticity, while Indosat has take benefit from reduce the tariff. CIMG viewed that Telkomsel has consumer base with less price elastic so tariff move will not respond fast by its customers. / Indo Pos, pg 17

Predictions for Indonesia’s telecommunications market

2009-07-28T13:46:00.002+07:00

Indonesia’s wireless communications market has made significant progress over the last five years.Telkoms Speedy DSL, has made progress in the market by upgrading the available speed and reducing tariffs. Telkomsel, while still very profitable by industry standards. The largest three mobile operators in the market still have significant market power, with Telkomsel, Indosat and XL serving 78 percent of all market subscribers at the end of 2008. CDMA operator Mobile 8 is reportedly closer to selling a strategic stake in its business, while rival Bakrie (Telecom) expects to merge by 2010 with a CDMA or GSM operator while the smaller GSM players such as Hutchison and Axis could also partake in merger and acquisition activity. / The Jakarta Post, pg 16

Competition leads to handset affordability

2009-07-28T13:46:00.001+07:00

Mobile phone operators are increasing in number. Today, there are eight GSM and three CDMA operators. Rakhmat Junaedi, corporate services director of Bakrie Telecom, reminded operators to be more cautious after the government put into effect in April 2008 the new interconnection rate, which has caused the retail tariff for subscribers to decline by 40 percent. Consumers are the target of bombastic promotion campaigns. Indosat says that you only need Rp 1 to make a phone call, while Excelcomindo offers free calls for 24 hours. Every operator has to be extra creative and innovative to lure new subscribers. Previously there were only three operators that provided this facility, namely Telkomsel, Indosat and XL. Recently, Natrindo with its Axis brand jumped onto the bandwagon. / The Jakarta Post, pg 17

BWA Winner prepared to bring affordable internet around

2009-07-28T13:44:00.001+07:00

Winner of broadband wireless access (BWA) license tender convinced of providing affordable high speed internet access. Winner of BWA license promised to apply the regulation to include minimum 30% local content rule. Opinion grouped from PT Intermix Director Adnan Nisar and PT Indosat Mega Media (IM2) President Director Indar Atmanto in Jakarta, not a while ago. Intermix is the license holder for zones of Banten, Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, while IM2 handle the zones of West Java to except Bogor, Depok and Bekasi. / Investor Daily, pg 24, Republika, pg 25

Telkom and Indosat Are Leaving Stock Market

2009-07-28T13:43:00.001+07:00

State Firm Ministry Sofyan Djalil stated that PT Indosat Tbk now is reviewing its plan to quit from New York Stock Exchange. The reasons are stock market’s rule is complicated and cost is too expensive. The state firm minister asked PT Telkom to do similar review. / Tempo magazine, pg 126

Indosat potentially causing the country loss

2009-07-28T13:42:00.001+07:00

The policy of Indosat on in-flight cellular service and prepaid internet grace period reduction are potentially causing some loss for the country over tax revenue. ‘The policy taken by Indosat sensitively causing some loss to the country,’ mentioned Policy and Consumer Protection Director of Information Society Development and Empowerment Institute (LPPMI), Kamilov Sagala, Monday (27/7). It was explained the policy to provide in-flight cellular service vulnerably causing loss to the country on the non clarity over frequency tax and roaming cartel potential. And related to the policy of grace period reduction of Indosat IM2 prepaid internet package cut from 180 days to 90 days, Kamilov believed on tax revenue loss potential. / Koran Jakarta, pg 16

In The Air We Could Call

2009-07-28T13:41:00.001+07:00

Prohibiation to make a call during in flight has wait for to remove. Aeromobile is the first global company provides commercial in flight telecommunication service. In Indonesia, Aeromobile has set up alliances with Indosat. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by President Director Indosat, Johnny Swandi Sjam with Director of Regulatory Affairs AeroMobile, Stein Gudbjorgsrud. For the service, Indosat sets call tariff Rp 55 thousand per minute, for SMS Rp 13 thousand per SMS, and for data is Rp 350/Kb. / Republika, pg 25

End of August, Indosat to roll Palapa D Satellite

2009-07-28T13:39:00.000+07:00

PT Indosat will launch Palapa D Satellite to replace Palapa C Satellite which effectively to end soon. The plan will be for the satellite to launch at end of August. ‘Palapa C Satellite will be expired in two years, so that we will launch the replacement, Palapa D Satellite,’ mentioned Johnny Swandi Sjam on Monday (27/7). / Okezone.com, 27/7 – 17:05, / Seputar Indonesia, pg 18

Target 3 to be Forth Operator in Indonesia

2009-07-15T15:17:00.000+07:00

3 GSM network in last two years has reached 21 provinces in Indonesia from Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Up to now the consolidation of investment in Indonesia reached USD1 billion. "3 will continue to develop the network and provide the best quality with cheap prices that reached by all the community," said President Director Manjott Mann in its information authorized in Balikpapan, on Tuesday (14/7/2009). / Okezone, 14/7 – 17:08

iPhone 3G is smarter with OS 3.0

2009-07-15T15:16:00.000+07:00

In line with newest iPhone software OS 3.0, Telkomsel provides iPhone 3G installment without any down payment. The newest software enable Telkomsel iPhone 3G users to enjoy some interesting features like Cut-Copy-Paste, Landscape Keybord, Message, Spotlight Search, e-mal and Voice Memos. / SWA, pg 24

BlackBerry Manufacturer and the Ambassador of Canada Approach the Government

2009-07-15T15:15:00.000+07:00

Research in Motion (RIM) is lobbying the government to request regulatory relief since its certification import was frozen. RIM and the Ambassador of Canada met the Director General of Post and Telecommunication Basuki Yusuf Iskandar in Jakarta. This meeting was following up a letter from RIM that was sent by email on Saturday, 11 July 2009. The intention of the letter is to emphasize RIM commitment to build after sales services centre in Indonesia. RIM plans to open its after sales services centre on 26 August 2009. However, technically this after sales services can be operated on August 21. / Detik.com, 14/7 - 19:14, Detik.com, 14/7 - 19:43

Competition to Gain Internet Customers among ISP Operator Tight

2009-07-15T15:14:00.000+07:00

Yong Rahwana, a businessman of Internet Service Provider (ISP), said that it was getting difficult to run the business. According to Ayang, ISP business in regional level had not yet able to compete with Telkom's product, namely Telkom Speedy. Despite of several lacks, he stated, Speedy had been the most used product by consumers in regional level. Telkom, Ayong said, had gained initial advantage of having already established infrastructure network. Therefore, the state owned company was able to lower their ISP tariff. / Jurnal Nasional, pg 21

Indosat M2 Build Rp 1.6 Billion Service Center

2009-07-15T14:57:00.000+07:00

Indosat Mega Media (IM2), the subsidiary company of Indosat, would build 32 IM2 Broadband Services (IBS) offices in all regions in Indonesia by the end of 2009. The rumor mentioned that the investment value of the service center was 1.6 billion rupiah. "IBS is IM2 office that serves as distribution center, product (both pre and post paid ones) sales center, as well as help for modem and connection setting. IBS would be managed by IM2 business partners. / Okezone, 14/7 –16:41, Seputar Indonesia, pg 15, Suara Karya, pg 10, Bisnis Indonesia, pg I7

Indosat network stable on holiday season (11/7)

2009-07-13T14:52:00.000+07:00

In the peak of holiday break, telecommunication traffic increase significantly. Being anticipated by Indosat, as umbrella operator of Matrix, IM3 dan StarOne. Adita Irawati, Indosat Public Relations Division Head mentioned, so far the network performance especially in the middle of school break, June till beginning of July in good condition. Voice traffic showed increases since June 7th 2009, whereas the top happened on June 21 2009. Traffic increase for 17.8% compare to regular day in the beginning of May 2009. On SMS, the increase started to show on June 6th 2009 with the peak of traffic on June 20th 2009 for 14,3% compare to regular day on the beginning of May 2009 with total SMS voluje on the day of 245.8 million SMS. / Neraca, pg 7

Communication Traffic Soared on Presidential Election (13/7)

2009-07-13T14:51:00.000+07:00

During Presidential Election 2009, PT Telkomsel recorded SMS increased up to 17%, while PT Excelcomindo Pratama (EP) booked voice rose by 7.1%. Highest record reached by Indosat with the increase of voice 33.46%, SMS 10.32% and data 13.53%. Data information collected from Manager Corporate Communication Tekomsel Suryo Hadiyanto, Division Head Public Relations Indosat Adita Irawati and Manager Corporate Communication PT Excelcomindo Pratama Febriati Nadira in Jakarta, week ago / Investor Daily, pg 24

Tom Alamas Dinharsa: Smart Telecom Head of Business Development - Channels Important in Working in Marketing Business (13/7)

2009-07-13T14:50:00.001+07:00

For Toma Alamas, Information and Technology (IT) was not a new field to work on. When working in Mobile-8 Telecom, Tom was a Chief Marketing Officer. He did not work long, though. Since 2005, the 42 year old guy joined Smart Telecom. In Smart, Tom had filled three different positions. Fisrt, as device, second, Marketing Communication and now Head of Business Development who dealt with new product profile. / Rakyat Merdeka, pg 13

The Diminishing Tariff War Advantage XL - Bank Syndication Credit of 1.5 Trillion Rupiah Settled This Month (13/7)

2009-07-13T14:48:00.002+07:00

Financial crisis had caused cellular tariff war to diminish this year. Excelcomindo Pratama opted to strengthen the service to customers and reduce marketing cost this year. Excelcomindo Senior Vice President Corporate Finance Johnson Chan stated that the company still attempt to expand by broadening network and improving this year performance in selective way. The company, he continued, had gained Bank Negara loan commitment as much as 1.5 trillion rupiah (US$ 150 million). / Bisnis Indonesia, pg F3

Full support from operators (13/7)

2009-07-13T14:48:00.001+07:00

Operators lend full support to the demand from the government that the Research In Motion (RIM) establish its after sales service in Indonesia. The Managing Director of Telkomsel Sarwoto Atmosutarno said the company supports the law enactment from the government. He is concerned, however, that the act should not put a halt to the BlackBerry service to the customers. The General Manager of Corporate Communications of PT Excelcomindo Myra Junor added that the demand from the government that RIM establishes its service center in Indonesia is a warranted demand, considering the staggering number of Blackberry users in Indonesia. / Republika, pg 25

Telkom Collected 5 Awards (13/7)

2009-07-13T14:36:00.000+07:00

PT Telkom collected five awards from Hong Kong based Magazine, Finance Asia. The five awards was handed in Jakarta on June 29, 2009 are Best Managed Company, Best Corporate Governance, Best Investor Relations, Best Corporate Social Responsibility, and Most Committed to a Strong Dividend Policy. Eddy Kurnia. Vice President Public and Marketing Communication Telkom, said proud to achieve the awards from international reputable institution like Finance Asia. / Republika, pg 23

Mastel suggest IPTV postponement, Telkom may keep the broadcast

2009-07-09T14:14:00.001+07:00

Indonesia Telematics Society (Mastel) recommends regulation and service provision postponement over Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) until Convergence Law formulated. (Bisnis Indonesia, pg I7, Koran Jakarta, pg 16)

COMNETS won the tender for the countryside telephone network project (USO)

2009-07-09T14:13:00.001+07:00

At last, PT Indonesia Comnets Plus won the tender for the development of the countryside telephone network through the Universal Service Obligation (USO) project. Comnets Plus was awarded the rights to the packages 1 and 2 of the USO, covering the eastern part of Indonesia. (Kontan, pg 14, Bisnis Indonesia, pg I6, Seputar Indonesia, pg 14)

CONSORTIUM REQUEST POSTPONEMENT - Government ask Palapa Ring build on August

2009-07-09T14:11:00.000+07:00

Palapa Ring consortium members submitted the letter to Depkominfo request for more time up to November this year to start the mega project. Meanwhile, government sticks to the original plan of starting the fiber optic network development in East Indonesia started by August 2009. (Investor Daily, pg 24)

TELECOMMUNICATION - Mobile-8 supports the LP3ES Quick Count

2009-07-09T14:10:00.001+07:00

After its success in supporting the quick count for the parliamentary election of April 2009, PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk (Mobile-8) now supports the quick count for the presidential election of July 2009, conducted by RCTI and the Institute for the Research, Education and Dissemination of Social and Economic Issues (LP3ES). (Investor Daily, pg 24)

BTEL focuses on the organic growth

2009-07-09T14:09:00.000+07:00

PT Bakrie Telecom (BTEL) puts its focus on the service development in all its areas after the government issued its edict on telecomm industry consolidation. (Neraca, pg 5)