Govt appoints nine new cellular phone providers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed nine companies to
\noperate the Digital Cordless System and the Personal Handy-Phone
\nService in six areas of the country, the Ministry of
\nCommunications announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Director General of Post and Telecommunication in the
\nministry, Sasmito Dirdjo, said the nine companies awarded the
\nlicenses were chosen from the 22 firms that won through to the
\nfinal stage of the tender in late October.<\/p>\n
\"The Ministry of Communications has issued principle licenses
\nto the nine companies,\" Sasmito told reporters at his office.<\/p>\n
Principle licenses allow the companies to begin preparations
\nfor the services, however licenses to begin the operations have
\nyet to be issued.<\/p>\n
In June 1997, the government put 11 licenses to operate the
\nPersonal Communication Network (PCN) out to tender. The network
\nincludes the Digital Cordless System (DCS-1800) and the Personal
\nHandy-Phone Service (PHS).<\/p>\n
The PCN is a digital remote telephone system that uses light,
\ninexpensive handsets powered by long-life batteries to
\ncommunicate via low-powered antennas.<\/p>\n
The DCS-1800 was developed from the Global System for Mobile
\nCommunications (GSM), which originally came from Europe, while
\nthe PHS was developed in Japan.<\/p>\n
Sasmito said Astratel Nusantara Consortium has been appointed
\nto operate the DCS-1800 in Sumatra, while PT Ariawest
\nInternational won the license for West Java.<\/p>\n
Mitra Perdana consortium will operate the DCS-1800 in Central
\nJava, Natrindo Telepon Seluler Consortium in East Java,
\nPrimarindo Sistel Consortium in Kalimantan and Kodel Margahayu
\nConsortium in the eastern region of the country.<\/p>\n
The three winners of the PHS licenses are PT Jaya Telesarana
\nIntisel for Sumatra, Patria Caraka Nusantara Consortium for West
\nJava and Bima Investa Utama for Central Java.<\/p>\n
The appointment of cellular providers was delayed until the
\nend of October this year because of the monetary crisis. It was
\ninitially planned to award the licenses in December 1997.<\/p>\n
Telecommunications bill<\/p>\n
Sasmito also said the ministry is currently drafting a
\ntelecommunications bill which would open the sector up to both
\nforeign and local investors.<\/p>\n
The bill is expected to be completed by the end of this month,
\nafter which it will be submitted to President Habibie before
\nbeing deliberated by the House of Representatives, he said.<\/p>\n
The ministry will also draft a government regulation on the
\nimplementation of the law, which he said should be completed by
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
\"The telecommunications bill is being drafted because of
\nconcerns that Law No.3, 1989 on telecommunications has been left
\nbehind by the progress made in telecommunications, both with
\nregards to technology and industry concepts,\" Sasmito said.<\/p>\n
The bill will end the monopoly held by the state companies PT
\nTelkom and PT Indosat over the operation of telecommunications
\nsystems in the country, Sasmito said.<\/p>\n
The bill also differentiates between the operators of
\nnetworks, services and special services.<\/p>\n
It will allow all foreign and local investors to operate
\ndomestic, long distance and international telephone networks.<\/p>\n
However, the government intends to maintain the exclusive
\nrights bestowed by permits given to the current network providers
\nthroughout their agreed lifespan, Sasmito added. (das)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-appoints-nine-new-cellular-phone-providers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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