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)