Illegal VOIP operators get ultimatum

JAKARTA: The government has given unlicensed Internet telephone operators until May 31, 2002 to cooperate with licensed operators or be shut down.

The warning was issued Thursday by Tulus Rahardjo, director of telecommunication development, while addressing a seminar on Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) in Jakarta.

Tulus said that the government has issued a regulation allowing mutually beneficial cooperation between the illegal and legal operators pending the set deadline.

Currently, Indonesia has five licensed VOIP operators: Telkom, Indosat, Satelindo, Atlasat and Gaharu.

The late announcement has led to the emergence of illegal VOIP operators, including Internet providers, over the past two years.

Tulus said that the regulation was aimed at making future VOIP business profitable, while giving ample contribution to the national telecommunication industry and protecting consumers.--Antara