Excelcomindo to build network in Aceh

Excelcomindo to build network in Aceh

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In the face of the utter destruction caused by the tsunamis in
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, cellular operator Excelcomindo plans to
expedite the construction of its network there with an investment
of up to US$20 million in the first phase.

Marketing business solutions director Rudiantara said on
Tuesday that the company had completed a survey in Aceh on Dec.
24, two days before the catastrophic quake and tsunamis crushed
houses along with most infrastructure.

"We'll speed up the deployment (of installation) there," he
said. Another team of surveyors will be sent next week to observe
current conditions.

Excelcomindo, the country's third largest operator with pre-
paid products Jempol and Bebas and post-paid Xplor, will build 20
to 25 base transceiver stations in Aceh province, including in
severely damaged areas such as Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Sabang.

"We'll invest between $15 million and $20 million in the first
phase of network construction," said Rudiantara. It is unclear as
to how soon the service can be used.

The operator holds about 15.5 percent of Indonesia's cellular
market with some 4.4 million customers. Capital expenditure for
2005 is yet to be announced, pending a shareholders meeting, but
is reported to exceed the $200 million it spent last year.

Some 27.3 percent of Excelcomindo's stake was recently
acquired by Malaysia's biggest telecommunications company,
Telekom Malaysia. Some 60 percent of the company is owned by
local investors while the other 12.7 percent by Asia
Infrastructure Fund.