Komselindo: The cellular expert<\/p>\n
Suppose we combine a strong technical expertise in
\ntelecommunications engineering and a long history of being a
\nnational telecommunications service provider, what would we get?
\nProbably a synergistic joint venture telecommunications operator
\nlike PT Komselindo, the leading AMPS cellular mobile telephone
\nservice provider in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Established on January 25, 1995, Komselindo has been providing
\nAMPS cellular telephone services in a variety of areas in
\nIndonesia, including the Greater Jakarta Area, the entire West
\nJava, Aceh, Palembang, Bandar Lampung, Semarang, Solo,
\nYogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Denpasar, Banjarbaru, Banjarmasin,
\nSamarinda, Balikpapan, and the entire island of Sulawesi. Even
\nwhen enjoying the breathtaking views of the beautiful coral reefs
\nthrough the glass bottom of a boat off Bunaken, neyou still can
\ntalk with someone on the other side of the globe using your AMPS
\nhandphone.<\/p>\n
Komselindo's reputation as a major cellular phone service
\nprovider has been fully recognized. For example, during the
\nupcoming Indonesia Air Show that will start June 22, the company
\nwill become the official carrier for cellular phone
\ncommunication. One thousand lines will be provided initially,
\nwith the possibility to increase the number as needs arise.<\/p>\n
Where did Komselindo's strong background in telecommunications
\ntechnology come from? This company is a joint venture between PT
\nElektrindo Nusantara and PT Telkom. The former has an established
\nhistory in manufacturing and building telecommunications
\nequipment for domestic use as well as for exports to neighboring
\nAsian countries. It has its own R&D division. In fact, Elektrindo
\nNusantara started providing the country's first cellular
\ntelephone service back in 1991. As business grew rapidly,
\nhowever, it was felt that a new business organization was
\nrequired. Hence the joint venture with PT Telkom.<\/p>\n
As for PT Telkom itself, no one else in Indonesia could have
\nmore experience in providing public telecommunications services.
\nElektrindo Nusantara owns 65 percent of PT Komselindo, while PT
\nTelkom controls the remaining 35 percent. With both parties
\ncontributing their respective forte, it should not be surprising
\nat all that Komselindo's present objective is to achieve the
\nstatus of \"The Cellular Expert\".<\/p>\n
And for good reasons, too. First, the nationwide market for
\ncellular telephones is still huge and--due to the growing size of
\nour middle class--is still expanding rapidly. According to the
\nApril 1996 issue of Mobile Communications Magazine, the total
\nnumber of subscribers of both digital and analog cellular phones
\nfor last year is 187,000, which represents a 80 percent increased
\nfrom 1994. Yet, it reflects only a 0.09 percent penetration. The
\ndomestic trend by no means deviates from the global situation,
\nwhich shows an average increase of 110 percent for the whole Asia
\nPacific region. This figure reflects a 0.72 percent penetration.<\/p>\n
Second, despite the many misconceptions about the analog
\ncellular system that been circulating, the technology still
\noffers several advantages (See article \"Digital vs. Analog: Does
\nit Matter?\"). Third, today's customers tend to be more educated.
\nThey know what services they require, and they are willing to pay
\nfor services with a high degree of flexibility. To them, it
\ndoesn't matter whether the cellular phones they use in
\ncommunicating with their business partners, consultants, or
\nfamily members are analog-based or otherwise. And, as far as
\ncreativity in designing services to be provided to the customers,
\nthe sky is the limit. In short, there is still a huge, largely
\nuntapped potential for market growth.<\/p>\n
\"Today we have about 75,000 subscribers and we are sure that
\nthe number of our subscribers will grow rapidly because we are
\ngoing to have several new sites such as Banda Aceh, Kendari,
\nPalu, and Padang in our network later this year,\" says Ronny K.
\nHarlan, Komselindo's Marketing and Sales Manager. \"Also, our
\nsubscribers will enjoy our digital services in early 1997. The
\ndigital technology called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
\nand its inherent properties provide for the most robust
\nperformance of any digital wireless technology over the air. Our
\nsubscribers can choose either to have an analog service or a
\ndigital service whenever they want,\" adds Ronny.<\/p>\n
Currently, Indonesia has three AMPS operators. Outside PT
\nKomselindo's area of services, PT Telekomindo provides AMPS
\nconnections in Kalimantan, Lampung and Bali. PT Metrosel provides
\nservices in Central Java, East Java, and all the other areas in
\nthe eastern part of Indonesia all the way to Irian Jaya. The
\ntotal number of subscribers for all three operators is 130,000.<\/p>\n
For 1996, Komselindo expects to have in excess of 60,000
\nsubscribers for Jakarta alone. However, obtaining new subscribers
\nis not exactly the most important objective that it is pursuing;
\nmaintaining the existing ones is. In order to achieve this
\nparticular objective, one of the steps that Komselindo is taking
\nis to ensure the largest coverage with the most bulletproof
\nreliability. These are, in the company's view, what the Cellular
\nExpert must be able to accomplish. (zia)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/komselindo-the-cellular-expert-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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