PT Telkomsel launches mobile base station

JAKARTA (JP): Private cellular operator PT Telkomsel launched yesterday its newest innovation -- a mobile radio base transceiver station nicknamed Combat -- in another effort to improve its service in the competitive cellular communications business.

Telkomsel operates the global system for mobile communication (GSM) and has allocated at least Rp 10 billion (US$4.16 million) to create 10 Combats by the end of the year.

Company director of operations Garuda Sugardo said each Combat, originally a Mercy truck, would cost between Rp 800 million and Rp 1 billion.

He said Combats consisted of a radio base transceiver with a telescopic controllable up to 35 meters.

"Combat is designed by Telkomsel and PT Hariff, a private firm in Bandung, West Java," he said.

Combats would use Motorola, Siemens or Ericsson base transceiver stations, he said.

He said the first Combat, which was prepared and designed last August, was operated on Jan. 31 near South Jakarta's Sakti Plaza building to replace the damaged normal base station there.

"Combat is very useful to replace damaged base stations and can be moved to support areas which are packed with users on particular occasions," he said.

He said Combats would be useful for the state-owned PT Telkom and Indosat if they wanted to improve their transmission links occasionally.

Telkomsel, which competes with PT Excelcomindo Pratama and PT Satelindo in the GSM service, is owned by Telkom, Indosat, PTT Telecom Netherlands and a Setiawan Djody's Setdco group.

Telkomsel plans to spend Rp 710 billion this year to improve its services. Most of the money will be used to build more base transceiver stations. (icn)