Cellular phones hit Bengkulu

JAKARTA (JP): Global system of mobile telecommunications (GSM) operator PT Telkomsel launched its service in Bengkulu, southern Sumatra, on Saturday.

Telkomsel president Koesmarihati Sugondo said in Bengkulu that her company had installed three base-transceiver stations (BTS) in Bengkulu, Pagar Dewa and Curup to cover the province's 1.4 million people.

She said about 300 people in Bengkulu were waiting to subscribe to Telkomsel's GSM.

Telkomsel, incorporated in 1995, has 168,000 subscribers nationwide.

"Now we operate in 23 of the country's 27 provinces. Telkomsel has installed BTS in 364 locations and 14 mobile switching centers nationwide," she said.

Koesmarihati said Telkomsel expected to serve all 27 provinces by the end of the year.

East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Central and Southeast Sulawesi still await the service.

Another GSM operator, Satelindo, which serves West Java, Central Java, East Java and East Kalimantan plans to enter Irian Jaya, South Sulawesi and Palembang by the end of 1996.

PT Satelindo presented an appreciation award to its 200,000th subscriber over the weekend. (icn)