Indosat launches value-added matrix with 13 partners
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.