Phone charge hike plan clarified<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The recent establishment of the Indonesian Telecommunications
\nRegulatory Agency (BRTI) will not lead to an immediate increase
\nin phone charges, according to a government press statement.<\/p>\n
I Ketut Prihadi, a spokesman for the Directorate General of
\nPosts and Telecommunications at the Ministry of Transportation,
\nsaid on Wednesday that although the setting up of the BRTI was
\none of the key requirements demanded by the House of
\nRepresentatives for the government to be allowed to raise phone
\ncharges, there were other conditions that also had to be
\nfulfilled by telecom players, especially the provision of more
\nfixed lines in rural areas and the settling of the
\ninterconnection fee problem.<\/p>\n
"The establishment of the BRTI is indeed one of the conditions
\nrequired by the House for the government to hike phone charges,"
\nPrihadi admitted.<\/p>\n
"However, there are other conditions the government has to
\nfulfill in order to raise the charges," he added. "On top of
\nthat, the minister (of transportation) must also consult any such
\nplan with the House."<\/p>\n
The press release did not say when the government would raise
\nphone charges. A hike announced at the beginning of this year had
\nto be delayed due to public protests.<\/p>\n
The government launched the long-awaited BRTI last week,
\nprompting analysts and even top officials of the Directorate
\nGeneral of Posts and Telecommunications to predict an immediate
\nincrease in phone charges.<\/p>\n
But after days of criticism, including from consumer
\norganizations, Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar said that
\nthe government had yet to decide on whether it would raise phone
\ncharges this year, citing various factors, including current
\npolitical and social conditions.<\/p>\n
In the ministerial decree on the BRTI, it is stated that the
\nBRTI will regulate and supervise the local telecoms industry.
\nAccording to the release, the duties of the BRTI are all aimed at
\ncreating fair competition, ensure smooth interconnections, and
\nattracting new operators into the industry.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/phone-charge-hike-plan-clarified-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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