Mobile cellular fever to continue for several years<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The mobile cellular telecommunications fever
\ncurrently hitting Indonesia will continue for the next few years,
\nas all of the nine operators are expanding their networks
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
Few customers, however, realize that the tariffs for cellular
\ntelephones in Indonesia are among the most expensive in the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
There are currently some 300,000 mobile cellular phone users
\nout of the country's population of 200 million. More than three-
\nfourths of the total are subscribers of the Global System for
\nMobile Communications (GSM) operated by two firms, PT Satelindo
\nand PT Telkomsel. GSM, initially developed in Europe, is one of
\nthe world's most popular digital mobile cellular
\ntelecommunications systems.<\/p>\n
In addition to the digital system, there are currently two
\nanalog modes operated in the country, including the Advanced
\nMobile Phone System (AMPS) and Nordic Mobile Telephones (NMT).
\nThe rapid development of digital cellular telecommunications,
\nhowever, is expected to edge out the increasingly outdated analog
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
A boon to the GSM network is the accelerated development of
\ntelecommunications networks by the government. The target will
\ninclude a ratio of 20 fixed telephone lines for every 100 people
\nby the year 2020, while the rate of cellular telephones is
\nexpected to reach between 10 percent and 20 percent of the total
\nphone lines in that year.<\/p>\n
The current fixed telephone density per 100 people in
\nIndonesia is less than two. Cellular telephone penetration,
\nmeanwhile, is currently just 0.15 percent.<\/p>\n
As the market is still very young, analysts believe that
\nIndonesia, with a steady growth of gross domestic product (more
\nthan 7 percent per year), is a big potential market for cellular
\ntelecommunications. Cordless phones also provide an advantage in
\na country which consists of so many islands, which make Indonesia
\nthe largest archipelagic state in the world.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, despite the small penetration of cellular
\ntelephones, increasing numbers of people conversing through
\nhandsets in public areas are a common sight in the country's
\nbusiness cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan and
\nBatam.<\/p>\n
People in major urban cities are now accustomed to seeing
\ncellular phone users ignore their surroundings in theaters,
\ncinemas, restaurants, hotel lobbies, meeting rooms, toilets and
\neven offices by speaking loudly into their handsets.<\/p>\n
Another factor which will make the cellular phones even more
\npopular is the recent removal of the import duty on cellular
\nhandsets which makes cellular phone prices more reasonable. From
\na range of about Rp 500,000 (approximately US$212) to Rp 2.5
\nmillion ($1,064) -- or even much lower on the black market --
\nmore people now can afford the tool of \"prestige\".<\/p>\n
Many cellular users, however, have yet to learn the \"rules\" in
\noperating their handsets.<\/p>\n
A director of Telkomsel, Garuda Sugardo, said that the \"rules\"
\nin cellular telephone operation are related to the bio-effect,
\nsafety\/security effect and convenience effect.<\/p>\n
In several nations, cellular telephones, traditionally
\nprohibited on airplanes, have been banned in hospitals because
\nexperts believe they interfere with medical equipment.<\/p>\n
Many countries ban cellular telephone operations from within
\ntwo meters of medical equipment, in hospital wards and operating
\ntheaters and near X-ray, intensive care, accident and emergency
\nand obstetric-newborn units.<\/p>\n
But it is common to see people or even paramedics in Indonesia
\nusing cellular telephones in hospitals, arguing they need to be
\nalways accessible.<\/p>\n
Telkomsel's manager, Doede Visser, said that hospitals could
\nactually put no-handset operation signs in particular places
\nwhere cellular phones may interfere with medical equipment.<\/p>\n
\"Just like special rooms provided for smokers in certain
\nplaces, hospitals can also provide special rooms for cellular
\ntelephone operation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
For safety, some other countries have banned the use of
\ncellular telephones by drivers -- except ambulances, fire
\nbrigades and police vehicles -- considering the risks of
\naccidents not only to the drivers, but also to passengers and
\npedestrians. Violators will face serious penalties for breaking
\nthe rule.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, people can use cellular phones even when they
\nare driving on freeways, such as toll roads.<\/p>\n
A handset held by a person frequently rang during the
\nperformances at the recent inauguration of the Dance Festivals at
\nGraha Bhakti Budaya in Taman Ismail Marzuki. The user did not
\nbother at all about the other spectators who grumbled.<\/p>\n
Some cinemas in Jakarta now display a sign before running
\nfilms. It is the no-handset operation sign, featuring a crossed
\ncellular handset, which aims to ban spectators from using their
\nphones during the show. But who really observes the rule?<\/p>\n
Many users also seem unaware of the operating cost of a
\ncellular phone, one of the most important things which should
\nhave been considered before buying one.<\/p>\n
\"I have discarded my cellular phone. My last billing statement
\nreached Rp 1.2 million,\" said Winda, an account executive of a
\nmajor newspaper in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Macky, a junior manager at a major business group, said that
\nhis cellular handset bill was paid by his company. \"But I have to
\nbe responsible for making calls only related to business.\"<\/p>\n
Seruni, a broker at the Jakarta Stock Exchange, argued that
\nmobile cellular telecommunications is a must for her job. \"Before
\ntaking this profession, I combined a beeper with a handset to
\nsave money.\"<\/p>\n
Although all the mobile cellular telephone operators are
\nprivate companies, competition in the country is totally based on
\nservices, as the tariff is controlled by the government.<\/p>\n
Mobile cellular telephone operators charge Rp 388,400 for a
\nnew installation, which includes Rp 300,000 for the activation
\nfee, Rp 8,400 for frequency utilization, Rp 25,000 for frequency
\nadministration and Rp 55,000 for the first-month charge.<\/p>\n
The monthly billing statement stipulates the fixed Rp 55,000
\nfor the monthly charge and Rp 8,400 for frequency utilization in
\naddition to the fees based on the volume of traffic calls, which
\nare subject to the 10-percent value added tax.<\/p>\n
Several cellular operators admitted that the current billing
\nsystem is very complicated, as the government has yet to
\nderegulate the interconnection system between the cellular and
\npublic switching telephone network (PSTN).<\/p>\n
The complicated traffic calls from cellular telephones are
\nalso caused by the zone divisions arranged by the state-owned
\ndomestic telecommunications operator PT Telkom for long-distance
\ncall traffic.<\/p>\n
Analysts said that cellular telephone operators should no
\nlonger have recognized PSTN tariffing, but only air-time charges.<\/p>\n
The current cellular telephone tariff structure in Indonesia
\nconsists of three components: an air-time charge, local call
\ncharge and long distance charge.<\/p>\n
The air-time charge includes two tariffs: from cellular to
\nfixed-telephone (Rp 275 per minute) and from cellular to cellular
\nphone (Rp 550 per minute).<\/p>\n
Local calls are categorized into two time divisions: normal
\nand peak hour. Normal hours are between 3 p.m. and 9 a.m., while
\npeak hours fall between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
Long distance calls are categorized into five time divisions
\nwhich have different charges, depending on work days and
\nholidays.<\/p>\n
Cellular operators also set up three zone divisions. Zone one
\nis for calls made within a 31 km to 200 km range. The range of
\nZone two is 200 km to 500 km, and the range of Zone three is over
\n500 km.<\/p>\n
Telkom sets three time zone divisions: Zone one, between 30
\nand 200 km; Zone two, between 200 km to 500 km; and Zone three,
\nover 500 km.<\/p>\n
GSM subscribers must also remember that they will be charged
\nfor roaming if they receive long-distance calls when they are out
\nof town.<\/p>\n
For example, a subscriber registered in Jakarta who is
\nvisiting Surabaya in East Java and receives a call from a fixed
\ntelephone in Bandung in West Java will be charged Rp 1,650 per
\nminute for the long-distance call in Telkom's Zone three.<\/p>\n
Mobile cellular users will also face higher charges if they
\nintend to use a number of optional features offered by the
\noperators. Because the government controls both the tariffs for
\ntelephone calls and the installation fee, cellular operators can
\ncompete only in services, meaning that they should be creative in
\noffering features.<\/p>\n
The monthly charges for the features range from Rp 16,000 to
\nRp 25,000 a month depending on the additional facilities, which
\ninclude call forwarding, voice mail, a fax service and short
\nmessage service.<\/p>\n
Table 1 Call traffic charges<\/p>\n
Calls Normal hour Peak hour<\/p>\n
(3 p.m.-9 a.m.) (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
\n --------------------------------------------------------------------
\n Handset to Rp 275\/minute Rp 275\/minute
\n fixed telephone X 100 percent X 125 percent<\/p>\n
+ Rp 55\/ minute + Rp 55\/ minute<\/p>\n
Handset to Rp. 550\/minute Rp. 550\/minute
\n handset X 100 percent X 125 percent<\/p>\n
(plus Rp 55 per minute (plus Rp 55 per minute<\/p>\n
if calls to handset if calls to handset<\/p>\n
from different operator) from different operator)<\/p>\n
Table 2 Cellular telecommunications zone<\/p>\n
Zone distance Long distance call division
\n --------------------------------------------------------------------
\n Zone Distance Charge Time Workdays Holidays<\/p>\n
(km) per minute
\n --------------------------------------------------------------------
\n 1 20-200 Rp 950 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 125 percent 50 percent
\n 2 200-500 Rp 1,320 3 p.m.-6 p.m. 100 percent 50 percent
\n 3 > 500 Rp 1,650 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 50 percent 50 percent<\/p>\n
9 p.m.-6 a.m. 25 percent 25 percent<\/p>\n
6 a.m.-9 a.m. 100 percent 50 percent<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mobile-cellular-fever-to-continue-for-several-years-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }