'Should I stop talking to my husband?'

The government's recent decision to raise local telephone rates by up to 28 percent has met criticism from experts and monopoly watchdogs. They said the hike would favor the state-owned telecommunications firm PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom). The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the issue.

Lusy, 32, works in a private company located in Tebet, South Jakarta. She lives in Depok with two children. Her husband works in Yogyakarta:

This new phone tariff is really a burden for me because I often make long-distance calls to my husband.

This month alone, I had to pay Rp 180,000 (US$21) in phone bills. As we don't earn much from our jobs, we have to limit our phone use. Sometimes, to avoid the costs, I call my husband using the office telephones at work -- furtively of course.

If the government increases the phone rate again, I will have to reduce the amount of times I call my husband.

Diana Yunita Sari, 27, is a journalist for a health tabloid located in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. She lives with her family in Depok, South Jakarta:

I don't use the telephone much at home, since I spend most of my time at the office. However, I am worried about this rate hike because I am the one who pays the phone bills at home.

Our bill is quite expensive already although I, my father and brother rarely use the phone. Imagine the rate I'll have to pay now.

I don't know why the government has decided to increase the rate. Haven't they already increased it few times recently? It's just bad timing. The country's economy has not recovered yet.

--The Jakarta Post