Satelindo targets higher profit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Telecommunications operator PT Satelindo expects
\nto net Rp 1.1 trillion (US$423 million) in revenue this year and
\nplans to provide direct-to-home (DTH) television service next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Company president, Iwa Sewaka, said here yesterday that
\nSatelindo's net profit was projected at Rp 120 billion this year.<\/p>\n
"During the first six months, we gained about half of this
\nyear's targeted revenue," he said.<\/p>\n
Satelindo last year booked Rp 595 billion and Rp 85 billion in
\nrevenues and net profit respectively, he said.<\/p>\n
He said of the Rp 85 billion profit in 1996, Rp 20 billion was
\nallocated for dividend payments.<\/p>\n
The company's debts reached US$270 million by the end of 1996,
\nIwa said.<\/p>\n
Satelindo, set up in January 1993, is one of the private
\ncompanies in the country licensed by the government to run
\nsatellite telecommunications services. The company also runs the
\nGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular telephones
\nand international telecommunications.<\/p>\n
Satelindo is 45 percent owned by PT Bimagraha Telekomindo --
\na joint venture between the Bimantara Group, owned by President
\nSoeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo -- and the Artha Graha Group
\nowned by Tomy Winata, a prominent businessman with a close link
\nto the Armed Forces. The other shareholders are DeTeMobil of
\nGermany, PT Telkom and PT Indosat.<\/p>\n
Iwa said Satelindo would operate a new satellite to provide
\nDTH television which would allow users to enjoy satellite
\nbroadcasting service by using small dishes with a diameter of
\nbetween 100 and 120 centimeters.<\/p>\n
"We plan to cooperate with Indovision, a pay-television
\nprovider which will operate direct broadcasting system
\nsatellites. This will save users money in buying decoders and
\nsatellite dishes which are adaptable with services from
\nIndovision and Satelindo," he said.<\/p>\n
Satelindo would look for partners to support the new business,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
"There are about 30 million television sets in Indonesia. It's
\nvery prospective even if we can only grab 10 percent of the
\nfigure," he said.<\/p>\n
He refused to give further details about the planned DTH
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
Satelindo currently operates two satellites, the Palapa-C1 and
\nPalapa-C2, the country's third generation satellite system.<\/p>\n
Company managing director for satellites, Janto Warjanto, said
\nthat four Ku bands of the Palapa-C1 currently in orbit would be
\nused to support the DTH service.<\/p>\n
"We have to create business. The demand always exists," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Satelindo was recently hit by massive complaints due to its
\ncellular billing errors which occurred after the company claimed
\nto have improved its billing system.<\/p>\n
Iwa reiterated yesterday that Satelindo would compensate
\ncustomers for recent billing errors.<\/p>\n
Satelindo's information technology general manager, Dede
\nRusnandar, said that out of 750,000 billing charges sent to
\ncustomers in the last few months, 37,000 had problems. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/satelindo-targets-higher-profit-1447893297",
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