Excelcomindo boosts capacity

JAKARTA (JP): Mobile telecommunications operator PT Excelcomindo Pratama said on Wednesday it would invest at least Rp 140 billion (US$19 million) in the company's coverage expansion to North Sumatra and Riau in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

Excelcomindo's general manager, Suhari Harliman, said the company expected to realize between 20,000 and 30,000 new customers in the two provinces during the first year of commercial operation.

Suhari said in order to anticipate the growth of new mobile telecommunications subscriptions in Jakarta the company would develop some 150,000 new lines in the capital to add to the current capacity of 320,000 lines.

He said the improvement of capacity in Jakarta would cost the company at least $10 million.

The company, which currently operates in Java, Bali and Lombok, said it expected the number of its subscribers to reach over 500,000 by the end of the year as against 438,000 at present. (cst)