Telephone rate increase

Telephone rate increase

From Bisnis Indonesia

I was surprised to learn that the government had increased telephone rates by almost 28 percent; I am against this move.

Telephone rates must not be raised for the following reasons: * The telephone service is a public facility, so its rates must be kept as low as possible * The telephone service is strategically significant in promoting efficiency and, eventually, boosting national productivity * The telephone service is a business gateway and as it is monopolized by the state telecommunications firm Telkom, seeking profit must come second in Telkom's goals

Given that the telecommunications business is highly lucrative, greater transparency in the management of this business is necessary, as it will demonstrate to the public whether or not it is necessary to raise telephone rates

In my opinion, telecommunications facilities must be categorized as a basic, public need and therefore their rates cannot be raised arbitrarily.

TK Prawiradipoetra Jakarta