Telkom's new `discount' hours

BANDUNG (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom has proposed the government change the peak and off-peak hours for local long distance calls, a Telkom executive said on Monday.

"Peak hours would be from 8 a.m to 8 p.m, during which a surcharge of 25 percent would be applied," Telkom's assistant vice president for communications A.M. Sampurna said.

He said off-peak hours would be from 11 p.m. through to 6 a.m., during which a 75 percent discount would be applied.

Sampurna said normal hours, during which regular rates were applied, would be from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m and from 10 p.m to 11 p.m.

He said under the existing rates, peak hours were from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m, during which a 25 percent surcharge was applied.

Off-peak hours are currently from 6 a.m until 7 a.m., during which customers receive a 50 percent discount, and from 11 p.m through to 6 a.m., when a 75 percent discount is applied. Normal hours run from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

If approved by the government, the change would be applied beginning Jan. 1, 2000. (43/cst)