Pay phones out of order

SEMARANG: Nearly one out of every three pay phones in Semarang are out of order, largely as a result of vandalism.

Didi Wargaprawira, head of the local branch of PT Telkom, said his office repairs each month roughly 700 of all the 2,118 pay phones installed in the city.

"What is so sad is that the damage is largely caused by nasty hands, simply for the sake of destroying the phones," he said, adding that the repairs cost the company millions of rupiahs each month. As a result, the company does not make a profit from the pay phones.

It costs PT Telkom Rp 5 million to install one coin-operated pay phone and Rp 8 million for card-operated units, according to Antara.

On Monday, Didi signed an agreement with the Institute for the Counseling and Protection of Consumers under which the consumer agency will have a part in helping to protect pay phones. (emb)