Telecom watchdog to get into gear next month
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The recently established Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Body (BRTI) will start operation in the middle of next month, a senior government official said on Friday.
Secretary-general of the Ministry of Communications Agus Pramono said that the telecommunications industry watchdog would be run by a five-member committee, to be chaired by outgoing Director General of Telecommunications Djamhari Sirat.
According to a ministerial decree on BRTI issued by the Ministry of Communications in July, the body will regulate and oversee telecommunications services and networks; issue licenses; settle disputes and set a benchmark for services.
The consumer grouping expects the BRTI to be able to take measures to protect consumer interests such as ensuring transparency in the calculation of phone charges or regulating the premium call business of phone companies, particularly as many telephone customers have complained that they have been charged for premium calls they claimed they did not make.
Meanwhile, telecom industry players hope that BRTI could resolve the current pressing problems in the industry which include formulation of a regulation on universal service obligations (USO) and the revision of the regulation on interconnection fee calculations. The USO program is aimed at boosting telecom services in rural areas, but there is no regulation as yet to ensure the project is carried out by the telecom operators.
Currently there are nine telecommunication companies operating in this country with state-owned PT Telkom holding the largest market share in local fixed-line and cellular services.
Despite concerns about the independence of BRTI, since it is established by the government, hopes and expectations are still high that BRTI can help sort out the current mess in the industry to help ensure fair competition, lure more investments and protect customers.
Elsewhere, Agus said that the government had selected four members of the BRTI committee including chairman Djamhari. They include Koesmarihati, a telecommunications expert, Soetjipto a legal expert, and Suryadi Azis, an expert on social issues.
He said that the economics expert had not been selected yet as no existing candidates fulfilled the criteria.
The committee members will have a two-year mandate, and can be reelected for a second term.