Telkom to invest in VoIP business

Telkom to invest in VoIP business

BANDUNG: The state-owned telecommunications firm PT Telkom
will expand its business by investing in the so-called Voice of
Internet Protocol (VoIp) business, a senior official said on
Monday.

Telkom vice president for communications B. Eddy Praptono was
quoted by Antara as saying that Telkom would allocate some US$7
million for developing VoIP infrastructure in 22 cities across
the country.

Eddy said that VoIP offers many benefits to customers.

He pointed out that, compared to the fixed-line telephone,
VoIP was cheaper for internet users, especially in Long Distance
Direct Dialing (SLJJ) which costs only half of the fixed-line
telephone tariff.

He added that VoIP technology, through its packet switching
facility, could provide one channel for eight telephone
connections. Generally, one channel only serves one connection.

Eddy said that the government had granted VoIP licenses only
to PT Telkom, PT Indosat, PT Satelindo, PT Atlasat and PT Gaharu.
-- JP