AT&T to assist Telkom

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned telecommunication company PT Telkom has signed a memorandum of understanding with AT&T of the United States for the development of long distance networks, Telkom's spokesman Gandjar Nugraha said over the weekend.

Gandjar said in a press release that the agreement was signed on Oct. 4 by Telkom's president Setyanto P. Santosa and AT&T's chief executive officer Jay Carter in Geneva.

Under the three-year agreement, AT&T will help Telkom improve its long distance networks in Indonesia through trainings in Indonesia and in the United States.

At&T will help Telkom improve its billing system, network planning, operation and administration, customer services and plan and develop new services to make the state company a world- class operator.

The signing of the agreement, which took place at Telkom's stand in the telecommunications exhibition in Geneva, was also witnessed by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Jonathan L. Parapak and Post and Telecommunications Director General Djakaria Purawidjaja.(04)