Control on radio frequencies tightened

Control on radio frequencies tightened

JAKARTA (JP): The government will tighten controls on the use
of radio frequencies in Indonesia, said Director General of Post
and Telecommunications Djakaria Purawidjaja.

Djakaria said here yesterday that tighter control was needed
to ensure that unauthorized use of frequencies did not disrupt
official telecommunications services.

At present, radio users are not only required to have a
license to use a frequency but also to use their
telecommunications equipment.

"A telecommunications operating license is needed to match the
existing frequency utilization license," he told reporters after
speaking at a round-up on telecommunications operations at the
Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.

Djakaria said many people still operated radio equipment
without a license. "This often disturbs official
telecommunications operators, including cellular telephone
operators, radio trunking providers and other users."

He said people illegally operating radio communications
equipment would be raided, to encourage the legal use of radio
frequencies.

The head of the Jakarta office of the tourism, post and
telecommunications ministry, Pudjo Basuki, said the government
had not issued licenses for commercial radio operation in the
capital since last September.

He said some 10,000 licenses had been issued for point-to-
point commercial radio operations, like those operated by taxi
cab companies.

The government had so far licensed 38 private radio stations,
20 radio beeper firms and six radio trunking operators in the
capital, he said.

He said that so far 50 communications sets had been seized,
and 14 operators have been taken to court for not having a
license.

In East Java, head of the tourism, post and telecommunications
office in Surabaya, Rio Judojanto, said he had launched a series
of raids without prior notification.

"This will make people aware that they must have a license,"
he said.

He said the city's telecommunications derived revenue such as
from registration and license fees had increased from Rp 52
million in 1995 to Rp 200 million last year. (icn)