Independent regulatory body in telecoms sector needed

JAKARTA (JP): Local telecommunications operators and experts have called for the establishment of an independent regulatory body to oversee the telecommunications sector.

They said such an agency was needed to create a healthy environment in the country's telecommunications business.

Chairman of the Indonesian Cellular Telephone Association (ATSI), Sudjono Pramadibrata, said on Tuesday the board should have the authority to design the country's fundamental technical plan in the telecommunications sector.

"The board will, among other things, determine the requirement for network development, fix rates, set and control the standard of service provided by operators as well as handle other technical matters," he said.

The allocation and use of frequency, however, should still be handled solely by the government due to specific considerations, including security, he added.

He was speaking at a discussion over the draft for the revision of the 1989 Telecommunication Law with House Commission IV for telecommunications, tourism and transportation.

Chairman of the Indonesian Telecommunications Society (Mastel), Sukarno Abdulrahman, said at a similar discussion on Monday that an independent regulatory board was necessary.

"The board is expected to create an environment in which telecommunications providers can compete in a healthy way and ensure, most of all, that the customers' rights are respected," he said.

However, he said, the board should not focus on the making of regulations since the government should remain as the sole policymaker.

"The board will function more as a supervisor in the implementation of policy at the practical level," he said.

There is currently no board that is designed especially to oversee the implementation of policies in the telecommunications sector.

House Commission IV chairman Burhanuddin Napitupulu said the idea of having an independent board was worthwhile to consider.

"It may equally consist of representatives from the telecommunications industry, experts, government and public," he said after Tuesday's discussion.

The board was expected to also handle the negotiation and creation of telecommunications rates in cooperation with the government and relevant telecommunications operators, he said.

"So far, the experts and public are not being involved in the establishment of rates as operators can discuss it with the government alone," he said. (cst)