Natrindo, Ericsson sign deal

Natrindo, Ericsson sign deal

HONG KONG (AFX-ASIA): AcrossAsia Multimedia Ltd said its unit PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler has entered into a HK$130 million GSM 1800 cellular network supply agreement with Ericsson to cover East Java Indonesia.

In a statement, the company said the deal will enable Natrindo to launch the GSM network services in East Java by the first quarter of next year.

Natrindo has been awarded a cellular licence to provide cellular phone services in East Jaya, covering 35 million people.

Ericsson will supply a GSM 1800 network, including optional GPRS upgrade, as well as network integration and system support services, the statement said.

Natrindo president and chief executive Michael Chow said the company plans to be a leader in the national wireless platform for internet and telephony within the next three years.

"Natrindo plans to accelerate its first-phase launch and roll out the service by the first quarter of 2001. In the second and third phases, Natrindo aims to provide services to 95 percent of the East Java population by third quarter 2002," he said.