Illegal VOIP operators get ultimatum

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