Telecom companies join up

Telecom companies join up

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Four state-run Southeast Asian telecommunications companies said yesterday they had formed an alliance to offer "one-stop shopping" to multinational firms.

Singapore Telecoms, Telekom Malaysia, PT Indosat of Indonesia and Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co, said in a statement the as yet unnamed joint venture company would be based in Kuala Lumpur.

They said the Communication Authority of Thailand and Jabatan Telekom Brunei might join the alliance to make it a full partnership of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) which groups the six countries.

"The joint venture is the first of its kind in ASEAN and is designed to offer customers from any part of the world the ability to enjoy a 'one-stop shop' facility for their telecommunications needs in ASEAN region," a spokesman for the joint venture said.

That meant a single point of contact for customers to order, install and maintain telecommunications services in the ASEAN region, he said.