Re-tender for 3G in November: Minister<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A re-tender for the 1,900 Mega Hertz (MHz) frequency -- allocated
\nby the government for the use of third generation (3G) cellular
\ntechnology -- will take place in November, a minister says.<\/p>\n
Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan Djalil said
\nthe re-bidding for each 5MHz-spectrum in the frequency would be
\npossible since all operators had moved their operations from the
\nfrequency.<\/p>\n
"The tender for the frequency is just a matter of time. The
\n1,900 MHz have been cleared. Indosat has removed its services
\nfrom the frequency while Telkom will clear out its operations
\nsoon," he said on Monday after overseeing the operation of a
\nfiber-optic communication system launched by PT Telkom, the
\ncountry's largest telecommunications company.<\/p>\n
The bid process is part of the government's efforts to modify
\nthe telecommunications frequency allocations to make them more
\nefficient.<\/p>\n
However, the minister refused to disclose the offering price
\nfor interested operators to bid on the license to operate in the
\n3G frequency allocation. "We have done several studies about the
\nprices, but I can't reveal the figures," he said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan had said in June that a 5-Mhz frequency allocation
\nwould cost approximately US$80 million in Australia and between
\n$10 million and $20 million in the United States.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he said the bid would still open for PT Natrindo
\nTelepon Seluler\/Lippo Telecom and PT Cyber Access Communications
\n(CAC) -- an affiliate of Thailand's leading cellular operator
\nTelecom Orange Asia -- which have obtained licenses to operate
\n3G-based cellular services in 2003.<\/p>\n
"If they join the bidding, they have to pay at the price
\nagreed on during November bidding," he said.<\/p>\n
The ministry is estimated to reap up to Rp 5 trillion
\n(US$520.83 million) in revenues by maximizing the allocation of
\nthe potential 60 MHz frequencies.<\/p>\n
Sofyan reiterated that the money gained from the tender would
\nbe used to install standard telephone lines in villages currently
\nwithout access to any sort of telecommunications across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Telkom's research showed that at present, fixed-line
\nsubscribers reached only nine million, or 4.8 percent of the
\ncountry's population.<\/p>\n
The minister also said that his ministry would soon issue
\npermits to operate 3G for operators that were ready to offer such
\nservices to their customers.<\/p>\n
"Telkom, Exelcomindo and Indosat have carried out technical
\ntryouts for their 3G technology, meaning they are ready to
\noperate it. I will soon issue a permit for them," he said.<\/p>\n
With 3G technology, cellular subscribers will be able to enjoy
\n"triple-play" services such as video streaming, video
\nconferencing through cellular phones, in addition to a much
\nfaster data transfer.(006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/re-tender-for-3g-in-november-minister-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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