Ratelindo launches new communications service

JAKARTA (JP): PT Radio Telephone Indonesia (Ratelindo), a private fixed-cellular radio telephone operator, introduced here yesterday a wireless data communications service.

The new service, called Data Ratelindo, was launched by Director General of Post and Telecommunications Djakaria Purawidjaja who also awarded yesterday a certificate for the company's operational worthiness.

Ratelindo is a joint venture company owned by PT Bakrie Electronics Company (BEC) of the Bakrie Group and state-owned PT Telkom.

Ratelindo, which began operations four years ago, is the first fixed-cellular radio telephone operator in Indonesia.

Data Ratelindo, which is currently only applicable in Jakarta and West Java, will allow users to operate data communications like facsimiles, electronic mailing, paging, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) transactions and credit card authorizations.

Company president, Hardianto Kamarga, said the new service would also include telemetry, trucking and field services.

Kamarga also signed yesterday several agreements for the new service application with Ratelindo's counterparts including Radnet Internet provider PT Rahajasa Media Internet; BCC; Bank Nusa; PT Jasa Jejaring Wasantara and PT Praweda Ciptakarsa Informatika of the Soedarpo Group.

Data Ratelindo, which is targeted to operate nationwide, works at the frequency of between 825 Megahertz and 835 Mhz with a speed of 19.2 kilobytes per second. The facility is equipped with a leading network protocol allowing any operational system to use Data Ratelindo.

Ratelindo has installed 38 cell sites to improve its service in the greater Jakarta area. (icn)