AMPS operators plan tie-up to boost services
AMPS operators plan tie-up to boost services
JAKARTA (JP): Operators of the country's three analog system
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) are considering joining
forces to provide prepaid services.
Winahyo, the general manager for the general administration
and services of Telesera, said on Friday the collaboration would
enable operators to offer prepaid services nationwide.
"Without the collaboration, the coverage of the prepaid
service will be limited, or that is, within its own working
area," he told The Jakarta Post.
Providing a nationwide service was almost impossible as AMPS
operators were only licensed to serve particular areas, he said.
He said the three operators had so far been collaborating in
the interconnection system for regular postpaid services so that
they could enable customers to roam in each others' areas.
Winahyo said the joint prepaid billing product could be
realized soon after the operators agreed on the technical and
financial aspects of the collaboration plan.
The most difficult barrier in realizing the plan, he said, is
the need to inject more investment to make the existing technical
system, including the interface system, compliant with the
prepaid services.
"The size of the investment very much depends on the type of
interface system used and further negotiation with vendors," he
added.
Indonesia now has three AMPS operators, namely Telesera in
Denpasar, Komselindo in Jakarta and Metrosel in Surabaya, East
Java, and they serve at least 92,800 users in different regions
in the country.
Telesera serves Bali and parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan,
Komselindo covers Java, Bali and parts of Sumatra and Sulawesi
and Metrosel covers mainly the eastern provinces of Indonesia.
Winahyo said the three operators had so far been working on
their own prepaid products and services which were originally
introduced by the Global System of Mobile (GSM)
telecommunications as an alternative for customers who wanted to
control their phone use and expense.
He said Telesera completed its prepaid product project named
KOMPAK, and launched it last month with a price tag of Rp 100,000
for a starter pack, which includes Rp 50,000 worth of free
airtime valid for 90 days.
"Unlike our regular postpaid billing product, this prepaid
product can only be used within Telesera's original coverage
areas," he said.
He said KOMPAK, which provides refill packages within a price
range of Rp 100,000 to Rp 300,000, has received a warm welcome on
the market.
He said Telesera successfully marketed 2,000 numbers and is
preparing to launch another 2,000.
Komselindo and Metrosel are still working to complete their
prepaid products, named GESIT and METROStar respectively, and
they are expected to be launched later this year. (cst)