Telkomsel leads the way in Indonesia's cellular industry
Telkomsel leads the way in Indonesia's cellular industry
PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel), the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications operator, has again established itself as a pioneer and trendsetter in the mobile cellular telecommunications industry in Indonesia.
The company, committed to providing world-class quality service, has launched its newest service, called simPATI Nusantara, which is a GSM prepaid card which can be used in all 27 of Indonesia's provinces.
Telkomsel's director of commerce, Hasnul Suhaimi, said that the GSM prepaid card market in Indonesia had become very competitive since the company introduced the first such card in late 1997.
"We have to introduce new innovations since the other operators have followed our lead in the GSM prepaid card market," he said.
He said that Telkomsel launched simPATI Nusantara to offer a GSM prepaid card which was able to operate all across Indonesia.
"Supported by our strong, reliable service and professionalism, our superior technology, marketing and efficient business management, simPATI Nusantara can be used in Indonesia's 27 provinces. Our priorities in introducing this prepaid card were on coverage, capacity, cost, quality and service. This is to keep the company ahead of the competition and ensure enduring customer satisfaction," said Hasnul.
He said that Telkomsel had also been able to enhance its corporate image as the leading cellular operator in Indonesia -- with more than 450,000 customers in a huge potential market -- by promoting customer satisfaction through fast, accurate, reliable and friendly service, all in line with the company motto: "leading in quality and service".
He said that through the new service, Telkomsel could further its goal of making cellular phones not just a need for urbanites, but also a public utility for people in all areas.
"GSM prepaid cards have their own market. Those who are able to afford it can subscribe to our GSM postpaid card, kartuHALO. All people can benefit from both of these services," he said.
KartuHALO is Telkomsel's main product for the GSM Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.
People who do not worry about their telephone bill and who want to enjoy the communication convenience of more complete facilities or value-added service can use kartoHALO. SimPATI, on the other hand, is for people who want instant activication and full control of their telephone budget.
Upgrading
Telkomsel first introduced the simPATI prepaid card in November 1997. Current simPATI users are automatically upgraded to simPATI Nusantara and keep the same number..
Hasnul said that simPATI Nusantara operates with a longer validity period. A Rp 100,000 voucher, for instance, is valid for two months plus a one month grace period for incoming calls only. A Rp 200,000 voucher is valid for five months plus a one month grace period.
There are also other vouchers worth Rp 300,000, Rp 500,000 and Rp 1,000,000 available at BCA ATMs throughout Indonesia. People who wish to buy starter packs or vouchers can go to Telkomsel Customer Care offices, Fuji Image Plaza or other official agents. Customers in the greater Jakarta area who want free delivery of their starter packs or vouchers can telephone simPATI Express at 571-2222.
Hasnul said that simPATI Nusantara provided customers several services, including caller identification, incoming short message service, voice mail and free customer service, by dialing 116.
SimPATI Nusantara has two tariff periods, the peak period between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the off-hour period between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Partly due to the monetary crisis in Indonesia, which has seen the rupiah depreciate against the U.S. dollar, cellular tariffs in Indonesia have become the cheapest in the world.
Choice at large
Telkomsel now has two main products: kartuHALO and simPATI Nusantara.
Hasnul said that all products were guaranteed to provide users the full range of GSM advantages, such as security (free from tapping, multiplexing and cloning), accessibility, affordability, high quality and wide coverage area.
Telkomsel utilizes sophisticated equipment to operate and maintain its high-quality GSM network. Through close relationships with internationally established suppliers and a synergistic multivendor policy, Telkomsel is able to offer the latest technology and related services to its customers. Telkomsel uses ultramodern network planning tools, network management equipment, high-capacity fiber optic transmission links, internationally accepted signaling protocols and a fully equipped maintenance division, including mobile temporary base stations to guarantee smooth, effective and high-quality communications to its customers.
Mainly to support simPATI Nusantara, the company operates an intelligent network which provide users convenience in utilizing the service. This allows users to check the validity of the card and the remaining credit on the card at any given time.
During the ongoing economic crisis, the company has continued to broaden its services and extend its coverage area throughout Indonesia and to other countries through a rapid expansion of its international roaming agreements. This international roaming feature benefits Telkomsel customers traveling out of the country as well as foreign guests visiting Indonesia.
As a trendsetter in Indonesia's telecommunications industry, Telkomsel has created dozens of features and innovations based on international standards.
Telkomsel's commitment to continuously extend its coverage area has been proven by its national operations. Moreover, Telkomsel continuously improves its network quality and capacity, while also extending its coverage area. At the moment, Telkomsel serves more than 340 cities, regions and smaller towns all across Indonesia.
For users of the kartuHALO, maximum value can be gained from the full range of services offered by the card. Besides the standard facility of being able to make and receive calls anywhere and anytime, kartuHALO offers a long list of value-added services which can be enjoyed for no cost or for very small added costs. Among these services is the Veronica voice mail service, including the unique, innovative fax message service feature, which allows storage and retrieval of fax messages by any available fax machine.
A history of excellence
Established on May 25, 1995, Telkomsel is owned by PT Telkom, PT Indosat, KPN Netherlands and PT Setdco Megacell Asia.
Telkomsel plans to become a cellular telecommunications service facilitator for the entire Indonesian community, make the telecommunications business speedier and more convenient, and to provide solutions for telecommunications needs anytime and anywhere. The company operates more than 50 Customer Care offices, called Graha Pari Sraya, strategically located in every province and in big cities across Indonesia.
Telkomsel has proved itself to be an innovative company, becoming a pioneer in the open distribution channel policy and multivendor infrastructure, the most complicated supporting system and the largest number of Mobile Switching Centers in the world.
Hasnul said that to extend its service, Telkomsel launched Compact Mobile Base Station (Combat) in areas not yet covered by base transceiver stations (BTS). Telkomsel was the first operator in Indonesia to launch the Compact Mobile Base Station.
In 1999, the number of base stations will be increased to extend the company's coverage area and network capacity, and to reduce the number of "blank spots" in coverage areas.
The company continues to fortify its position as Indonesia's leading cellular operator. Telkomsel also plans to continue investing in its services, with the purpose of safeguarding total network quality and customer satisfaction. After reaching earlier milestones, such as achieving coverage in all 27 of Indonesia's provinces and roaming with 50 countries spread over five continents, Telkomsel has now installed 1,040 base transceiver stations.
Telkomsel keeps improving itself and its performance in order to continue growing and to remain the most innovative cellular operator in the country.
This is proof of Telkomsel's constant commitment to support and fulfill the communications needs of all people, even during these tough times.
Table: Tariffs simPATI Nusantara
Local calls 8 a.m.-10 p.m. 10 p.m.-8 a.m.
- to fixed phone Rp 670 Rp 600
- to cellular phone Rp 1,220 Rp 1,100
Intercity calls
- in same area Rp 3,000 Rp 2,750
- interarea Rp 3,500 Rp 3,250
International calls
- class I, II, III Rp 8,000 Rp 7,500
Incoming calls
- in original area free free
- when roaming starting from starting from
Rp 2,000 Rp 1,750
Outgoing calls when roaming are subject to a 10 percent surcharge.