Satelindo reforms billing system
Satelindo reforms billing system
JAKARTA (JP): Private telecommunications operator PT Satelindo signed agreements yesterday with nine banks to support its billing services for subscribers to its global system for mobile (GSM) cellular communication network.
The agreements were signed by Satelindo president Iwa Sewaka and the top executives of nine domestic banks: Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia, Bank Dagang Negara, Bank Artha Graha, Bank Dagang Bali, Modern Bank, Lippo Bank, Bank Internasional Indonesia, Bank Central Asia and Bank Danamon.
Under the accords, the banks will directly deduct the monthly fees due to Satelindo from its GSM subscribers' accounts.
The banks will withdraw the charges five days prior to the last date for payment and then channel the collected funds to Satelindo's account after deducting a collection fee.
Iwa said that Satelindo, which provides GSM services in seven major cities in Indonesia, had so far listed 82,000 subscribers. "The number will likely reach 100,000 by the end of this year," he said.
Satelindo is 45 percent owned by PT Bimagraha Telekomindo, 22.5 percent by PT Telkom, 7.5 percent by PT Indosat and 25 percent by DeTeMobil of Germany. Satelindo raised US$586 million in March from the sale of the 25-percent stake to DeTeMobil.
"We expect to gain a profit of between Rp 50 billion and Rp 75 billion next year," Iwa said.
Satelindo, which was established in 1993, operates both GSM and international telecommunications services. The company will also operate the country's Palapa-C1 satellite, which will be launched next month.
The company decided to seek a loan after canceling a plan to issue debt instruments to generate additional funds to finance its expansion projects.
Iwa said that his company will receive a loan of $230 million from Bank Ekspor Import Indonesia. The Export Import Bank of the United States has already extended a $100 million loan to Satelindo for the launching of Palapa-C1.
"Our annual revenues from international call services this year may reach Rp 60 billion and from GSM services Rp 120 billion," he said. "We also expect to raise revenues of $56 million per annum from leasing Palapa-C1's transponders."
Palapa-C1 has 34 transponders, each of which is leased at between $1.5 million and $3 million per year. (icn)