Crisis 'won't affect telephones'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The currency crisis will not affect the
\ngovernment's target to install 8 million telephone lines in the
\ncurrent Sixth Five-Year Development Plan, which will end in
\nMarch, 1999.<\/p>\n
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said
\nin a statement that the currency crisis, which has cut the value
\nof the rupiah by around 35 percent against the U.S. dollar in the
\nlast thee months, would not affect the plan to install 6.7
\nmillion fixed-telephone lines and a network of 1.3 million mobile
\ntelephones in the current development plan.<\/p>\n
The government raised the target for new telephone lines by 60
\npercent, from five million to eight million, in December, last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
State-owned PT Telkom and its five contractors are in charge
\nof telephone-line installation. The private firms are responsible
\nfor installing and operating at least 2.2 million fixed-telephone
\nlines, as well as operating existing lines in five different
\nregions under a 15-year joint-operation contract signed in
\nOctober 1995.<\/p>\n
Last September, the government announced the postponement or
\nreview of government and state-related projects worth Rp 105
\ntrillion (approximately US$30 billion) as part of the drastic
\nmeasures initiated to cope with the currency upheaval.<\/p>\n
Rupiah and other Southeast Asian currencies have been under
\nspeculative attack due to the domino effect of the devaluation of
\nthe Thai baht in early July.<\/p>\n
As part of the retrenchment program, the government also
\ndecided to postpone Rp 38.92 trillion worth of investment
\nprojects sponsored by state and private companies and to review
\nother projects worth Rp 62.69 trillion. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/crisis-wont-affect-telephones-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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