ICO Global Communications links up with Excelcomindo

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Subscribers of the London-based satellite mobile communications firm ICO Global Communications can now access the local global system of mobile communciations (GSM) network of PT Excelcomindo Pratama and save 50 percent on their telephone costs, an executive of Excelcomindo said on Monday.

Billing and customer service director Rudiantara said ICO subscribers visiting Indonesia and roaming Excelcomindo's network would only be charged at about US$1.75 per minute.

"Usually, they pay about $3.50 per minute, including a roaming fee, international rate and a call surcharge of 15 percent," he said after signing the roaming agreement between Excelcomindo and ICO on Monday.

ICO's regional director for marketing cellular services Andy YB Yong said the agreement would enable Excelcomindo subscribers to roam on ICO's satellite-based worldwide communication network during their visit to areas that did not support the GSM system.

He said Excelcomindo's subscribers, however, could only enjoy ICO's satellite transmission service next year when ICO started its full commercial service following the launching of four ICO satellites.

"ICO plans to have in orbit ten Medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites by the end of 2000 to support global coverage," he said.

Andy said ICO had so far secured about 30 satellite and 16 terrestrial-roaming agreements worldwide.

He said most users of the Iridium network were employees and companies with outdoor activities, such as those at sea, in forestry, search and rescue and oil fields.

"These are places where the terrestrial-based network, such as GSM, is not available," he said.

In addition to the future roam access to ICO's satellite network, which is the agreement's main benefit, customers of Excelcomindo visiting North America can now use ICO's interstandard system to roam the local analog Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) and those visiting Japan can roam the Personal Digital Communications (PDC) 1500, Andy added.

Excelcomindo's international roaming manager Ferdinand HS said the company was the first Indonesian cellular operator that had access roaming to Japan's PDC1500 network.

He said the agreement with ICO would certainly enrich the company's overseas coverage service.

"We have so far signed roaming agreements with 75 cellular operators worldwide to enable our customers to roam in 45 destination countries," he said.

Excelcomindo signed earlier this year a similar agreement with another satellite-based mobile phone system company, Iridium.

Ferdinand said Excelcomindo users who wanted to roam on the AMPS or PDC1500 network should change their phones to the ones suitable for the local network.

The phones could either be bought at about $150 or rented at certain companies to be appointed later, he said, adding that calls made by Excelcomindo or ICO users during the roaming would be integrated in the customer's regular billing here.

Excelcomindo began operations in late 1996 and currently serves Greater Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali and Lombok.

It is owned by the United States-based Nynex Corp., Japan's Mitsui, Asian Infrastructure Fund and Indonesia's PT Telekomindo Primabhakti. (cst)