Telkomsel gets Visa service

JAKARTA (JP): PT Telkomsel will launch a Visa credit card service in cooperation with Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII).

Telkomsel's president, Koesmarihati Sugondo, said here yesterday that her company wanted up to 50,000 Telkomsel Visa credit cardholders by the end of this year.

"The card will offer rewards and discount programs especially for Telkomsel's subscribers," she said after signing an agreement with BII's credit director, Suryadi Purnama.

Telkomsel operates the global system of mobile telecommunications (GSM). The company signed last year an agreement with Bank Duta allowing its customers to pay their bills with Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Telkomsel, incorporated in May 1995, PT Satelindo and PT Excelcomindo are the country's three GSM operators.

Koesmarihati said Telkomsel had about 270,000 subscribers.

BII's vice president, Rudy N. Hamdani, said the bank had 200,000 credit card holders and expected 300,000 by the end of this year. (icn)