Telkom privatization programs to be evaluated soon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is to evaluate later this month
\nprivatization programs of telecommunications in the country's
\nfive regions handled by five joint ventures holding 15-year joint
\noperation contracts.<\/p>\n
\"The evaluation will be based on a number of parameters
\nincluding interpretations of legal aspects, reporting systems and
\ntechnology transfer,\" Minister of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications Joop Ave said after chairing a technical
\nmeeting with the five private firms yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said the government would also consider allowing the firms
\nto install more fixed-telephone lines than the original number
\nassigned by the government.<\/p>\n
Telkom handed over last January management of its
\ntelecommunications networks in Sumatra, Kalimantan, West and
\nCentral Java and the country's eastern region covering Sulawesi,
\nMaluku, Irian Jaya and Nusa Tenggara, following the signing of a
\njoint operation contract in October 1995.<\/p>\n
The projects were part of the government's program to install
\nfive million telephone lines within the current Sixth Five-Year
\nDevelopment Plan period, which ends in March 1999.<\/p>\n
Telkom would continue the development, operation and
\nmanagement of the networks in the greater Jakarta area and East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
The five private joint ventures include PT Pramindo Ikat
\nNusantara, responsible for installation of 500,000 new telephone
\nlines in Sumatra; PT Aria West International, responsible for
\n500,000 lines in West Java and PT Mitra Global Telekomunikasi
\nIndonesia, responsible for 400,000 lines in Central Java. The
\nother two companies are PT Daya Mitra, which would install
\n237,000 lines in Kalimantan and PT Bukaka Singtel, which would
\ninstall 403,000 lines in the eastern region.<\/p>\n
Each of the joint ventures is responsible for operating and
\nmanaging telephone lines in its contract area for 15 years, until
\n2010. In addition, each has been given three years, until 1999,
\nto install the telephone lines specified in their contracts.<\/p>\n
As the government increased its target to install 6.7 million
\nfixed-telephone lines and a network capacity of 1.3 million
\nmobile telephones by March 1999, the government would also review
\nthe private firms' responsibilities.<\/p>\n
Joop said yesterday the government had in the meantime
\nreceived reports from the five firms that the joint operation
\nprojects had so far run well. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/telkom-privatization-programs-to-be-evaluated-soon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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