Indosat launches value-added matrix with 13 partners

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Telecommunications firm PT Indonesian Satellite Corporation (Indosat) signed an agreement on Wednesday with 13 companies and educational institutes for the establishment of a value-added matrix that would allow its users to have access to all information through the text message service.

The 13 institutes are the Universitas Indonusa Esa Unggul, Universitas Mercu Buana, Universitas Terbuka (open universities), Interstudi, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Administrasi dan Sekretaris (ASMI), Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Jakarta, Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), PT Asuransi Sinar Mas, PT Dwi Konsumsi Investama (Dwiki), PT Matahari Putra Prima, PT Aneka Tambang, Blue Bird (Pusaka Group) and Hotel Ambhara.

The value-added Matrix is a postpaid subscriber identity module (SIM) card for cellular phones that is equipped with a browser menu, allowing users to access whatever information they need using the text service.

For example, students from the seven universities will be able to access their exam schedules and academic records by text message.

Indosat's cellular marketing director Hasnul Suhaimi said that the venture would improve Indosat's services to its customers.

"We have intentionally expanded this application as we are aware that more people need such information based upon easy access," said Hasnul.

Indosat is 41.9 percent owned by Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT). It generated Rp 5 trillion (US$581.4 million) in revenue last year from its cellular services. Of this amount, 80 percent was contributed by voice services and 20 percent by the text service. This year, revenue is expected to surge to Rp 8 trillion, with 25 percent contributed by the text service and the remaining 75 percent by voice services.

As of last year, Indosat had 6 million cellular subscribers. This figure had increased to 6.6 million by March of this year, and is expected to reach 9 million by the end of the year.

Hasnul said that the company planned to invest between $580 million and $600 million this year in building an additional 932 cellular lines, making a total of 4,100 lines.