Beeper operators find new users elusive<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Radio paging operators face various challenges
\nto increase the number of subscribers due to the inferior image
\nof beepers and poorly maintained pay phones, according to
\ntelecommunications executives.<\/p>\n
President of PT Raya Pertiwi Semesta which operates Multipage
\nbeeper, Muljo Rahardjo, and president of PT Skytelindo Service
\nwhich runs SkyTel beeper, F.X. Hadi Tjokrosoesilo, said it would
\nbe hard for beeper operators to reach three million radio paging
\nusers within the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan which will end
\nin March 1999.<\/p>\n
Minister of tourism, post and telecommunications announced in
\n1995 a new target of three million radio paging subscribers,
\nthree times the previously set target of one million during the
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
The minister said beeper operators could focus on expanding
\nsubscriptions by penetrating the segments of students, police
\nofficers, farmers, journalists and other potential users.<\/p>\n
Hadi said there were now some 750,000 pager subscribers in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
"It's hard to get new users as the public considers beepers
\nless fashionable than the expansive mobile telephone industry,"
\nMuljo said.<\/p>\n
He said beepers were also less competitive as the equipment is
\nonly a one-way telecommunications tool.<\/p>\n
"Beeper users must find a telephone or pay phone to make a
\ncall if they are beeped. In the meantime, we understand there are
\ninadequate pay phones in the country."<\/p>\n
Pay phone maintenance is also poor, meaning some of them do
\nnot function when needed, he added.<\/p>\n
According to Muljo and Hadi, innovative services are necessary
\nfor operators to lure customers.<\/p>\n
Raya Pertiwi Semesta, owned by PT Lyman Investindo, a
\nsubsidiary of Satya Djaya Raya group, and NTT International
\nCorporation of Japan, currently has some 40,000 users, Muljo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said Multipage offered various services, including
\nJakarta's traffic information between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again
\nbetween 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., as well as financial and general
\ninformation services to its subscribers.<\/p>\n
Hadi said SkyTel served international roaming services to 22
\nnations all over the world, reachable to subscribers almost
\nanywhere.<\/p>\n
Skytelindo is owned by PT Indokom Primanusa, Singapore
\nTelecommunications International and Mtel Corporate of the United
\nStates. (icn)<\/p>",
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