Cellular competition hots up in Kalimantan<\/p>\n
BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan (JP): The war of cellular
\ntelecommunications services began in this province on Sunday with
\nthe launch of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)
\nservice by PT Satelindo here, in Samarinda and in Bontang.<\/p>\n
Satelindo, which is owned by PT Bimagraha Telekomindo,
\nGermany's DeTeMobil and the state-owned firms PT Telkom and PT
\nIndosat, is challenging PT Telekomindo Primabhakti, which has run
\nan analog Advanced Mobile Phone System in East Kalimantan for
\nthree years, and PT Telkomsel, which plans to activate its GSM
\nservice in East Kalimantan later this week.<\/p>\n
Satelindo's cellular director, Saleh Gunawan, said that the
\ncompany has invested some Rp 10 billion (US$4.23 million)
\ninstalling five base transceiver stations here, three in
\nSamarinda and another in Bontang.<\/p>\n
\"We expect to gain in the near future 5,000 subscribers in
\nBalikpapan, 3,000 in Samarinda and 1,000 in Bontang.\"<\/p>\n
Telkom's manager for Kalimantan, Bajoe Narbito, told The
\nJakarta Post that there are currently 3,000 analog system
\nsubscribers in Balikpapan, Samarinda and Bontang.<\/p>\n
Saleh said that Balikpapan is Satelindo's first expansion area
\noutside of Java and Bali.<\/p>\n
Satelindo, which has procured equipment from Siemens of
\nGermany for its expansion in East Kalimantan, has appointed four
\nlocal dealers to market its GSM service in Balikpapan.<\/p>\n
One dealer said that he has received 100 subscription
\ninquiries.<\/p>\n
Mayor of Balikpapan Tjutjup Suparna, who launched Satelindo's
\nGSM service in the city, said that the service is expected to
\nhelp improve social welfare in the city.<\/p>\n
\"There are currently 376,000 people living here. Development
\nin the city is quite significant with property as one of the most
\nbooming businesses,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Satelindo's chief operating officer, Ronald Chesterton, said
\nthat the company, which runs GSM as well as international direct
\ncalls and satellite transmissions, has 180,000 customers in Java
\nand Bali.<\/p>\n
\"We will expand our service to Pontianak in West Kalimantan
\nand Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan. By the end of this year,
\nall big cities in Kalimantan and all main roads connecting them
\nwill be covered by Satelindo GSM,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Satelindo began its GSM service in 1994. It will expand its
\nservice to Medan, North Sumatra, later this year. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cellular-competition-hots-up-in-kalimantan-1447893297",
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