Indosat to try out its 3G technology<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's second largest telecommunications company PT Indosat
\naims to try its third generation (3G) technology next month to
\nsupport its bid for a license and increase its customers.<\/p>\n
\"We will start with a pilot project in August. The pilot
\nproject is designed to monitor the market response, the technical
\nimplications, how to deal with customer service and how to offer
\nthe technology,\" the company's newly elected president director
\nHasnul Suhaimi told reporters in a gathering on Monday.<\/p>\n
With 3G technology cellular phone operators such as Indosat
\ncan provide multimedia facilities at faster speeds and with much
\nmore data than the cellular technology now being used here, which
\nis classified as 2.5G.<\/p>\n
Hasnul said the tryout of the 3G technology would support the
\ncompany's vision to become a leading cellular operator.<\/p>\n
For that purpose, the company allocated US$900 million, or 80
\npercent of its Rp 1 trillion bonds released to the market
\nrecently, to expand its cellular business.<\/p>\n
He also added that one of the aims of the expansion is to get
\nthe 3G license, which is only granted by the government.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully with this pilot project, we will get the license
\nnext year and launch the product later on,\" Hasnul told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Only two companies, PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler, or Lippo
\nTelecom, and PT Cyber Access Communications (CAC), an affiliate
\nof Thailand's leading cellular operator Telecom Orange Asia, were
\ngranted the license by the government in 2003.<\/p>\n
The government plans to offer additional frequencies to
\ncompanies that will operate cellular services based on 3G
\ntechnology if they can develop their businesses.<\/p>\n
Wityasmoro Sih Handayanto, the director of planning and
\nproject development, said that Indosat would try its 3G
\ntechnology in Jakarta and Surabaya, the two biggest cities in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"Applying 3G technology is a strategic business development
\nbecause it carries high-band-width and high capacity. Operators
\nwith many subscribers like us should apply the technology,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As of June, Hasnul said that Indosat recorded 13 million
\nsubscribers and targeting another one million by the end of the
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He also said that the company would expand its coverage by
\nbuilding more BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) that would cover
\nover 400 regencies in the country, from its coverage capacity of
\n383 regencies. (006)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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