Cellular operators pledge better networks and coverage

Cellular operators pledge better networks and coverage

JAKARTA (JP): At the beginning of this new millennium, people
are seeing that most new English terms are starting with an "e",
after a proliferation and familiarization of so-called e-banking,
e-business, e-commerce, e-mail, etc. People have the ease to surf
the "e-world" (electronic-world) via the Net anywhere thanks to
cool cellular telecommunications networks and coverage.

Some Indonesians will also enjoy this good-natured cyber
humanity as the country's cellular operators keep expanding their
services, particularly the coverage.

Indonesia has seen a promising increase in the number of cell
phone users after experiencing a sluggish interval due to severe
economic problems which led to rioting and sociopolitical unrest.
Based on data from state-owned PT Telkom, there were 1,821,358
cell phone users in Indonesia as of the third quarter of 1999.
The number is estimated to pass 2.18 million this month.

The user figure includes subscribers of seven cellular
providers: Telkomsel, Satelindo and Pro-XL (running the Global
System for Mobile Communications/GSM), Komselindo, Metrosel and
Telesera (the advanced mobile phone system AMPS) and Mobisel
(Nordic mobile telephones/NMT).

Telkomsel is estimated to lead the cellular industry with a
market share of 47 percent, followed by Satelindo, 33 percent,
and Pro-XL, 16 percent.

Telkomsel's Laurens J.M. Bulters said that with a total 1,171
base transceiver stations (BTS) across Indonesia, Telkomsel
pledges to offer good coverage. Some 400 additional BTS are
planned for this year, with one-third of them to be installed in
Greater Jakarta.

The number of Telkomsel additional BTS this year is quite
significant, realizing that coverage, in addition to capacity, is
the main key for customers' to have successful calls. Telkomsel
added less than 200 BTS in the last two years due to the crisis.

Telkomsel now operates in over 400 locations, including big
cities, small towns, administrative cities and other locations.

Committed to operating throughout Indonesia, Telkomsel remains
the only operator to have been able to maintain this. It also
runs mobile BTS dubbed Combat and a control room named Superman
to maintain its cellular system.

Satelindo has also covered the whole nation. Satelindo's Tb.
Ade Lukman said that the company would be able to invest much
money for network reparations.

He said focus would be on indoor coverage, particularly in the
business districts of Greater Jakarta.

The recent crisis and unrest has had a negative impact on
Indonesia's cellular sector. BTS, and any other equipment
necessary for coverage and networks must be imported. Therefore,
the cost for investment and maintenance is in greenback.
Concurrently, cellular providers' revenues are in rupiah.

Pro-XL's V. Elisawati said that during 1998 and 1999, his
company did not expand its coverage in new locations, but only
maintained its operating areas, including Java, Bali and Lombok,
with 360 BTS.

Pro-XL, however, initiated a breakthrough several years ago by
installing the world's largest contiguous microcell networks in
the capital's busiest business district.

In this world of interconnectivity with the most desirable
things of the Internet and mobile communications available,
people want to be always accessible anywhere they are. Therefore,
coverage is very important. All GSM operators have signed
international roaming agreements with most foreign operators for
users' convenience when abroad as well as foreigners visiting
Indonesia. (Christianto)