Telkomsel plans to simplify billing
Telkomsel plans to simplify billing
JAKARTA (JP): Subscribers to the global system of mobile telecommunications (GSM) run by PT Telkomsel can now pay their bills through Visa and MasterCard credit cards following an agreement signed yesterday by Telkomsel and Bank Duta.
Under the agreement signed by Telkomsel president Koesmarihati Sugondo and Bank Duta president Muchtar Mandala, the bank would handle all payments through Visa and MasterCard cards -- including those issued by other domestic banks -- by directly debiting them.
Telkomsel director of finance Hulman Sidjabat said the agreement would further strengthen his company's billing collection system.
"Now that we have this agreement with Bank Duta, our customers have maximum flexibility and convenience in the way they wish to pay their phone bills. Payment is already possible by cash, bank transfer, direct debit/auto debit and automatic teller machines," he said.
Telkomsel is cooperating with Bank BCA and Bank BNI 1946 to help subscribers pay their monthly bills.
Koesmarihati said Telkomsel operated in 186 cities nationwide and had about 180,000 subscribers.
"The country's cellular operators compete on service and customer satisfaction, so we are trying to provide more facilities," she said, adding that Telkomsel would enter East Timor on Thursday.
Telkomsel, incorporated in May 1995, is one of the country's three GSM operators. The other GSM operators are PT Satelindo and PT Excelcomindo.
Koesmarihati said Telkomsel would improve its infrastructure by using fiber-optic and microwave networks installed by state- owned domestic telecommunications operator PT Telkom.
Telkomsel is owned by Telkom, PT Indosat, PT Setdco Megacell Asia and PTT Telecom of the Netherlands.
"Telkom, for example, has installed four main networks in Java island, including the northern and southern fiber-optic routes and the microwave networks supplied by NEC of Japan," Koesmarihati said.
She said Telkomsel would set up its own networks in other areas with poor basic telecommunications infrastructure.
Infrastructure is a major element which allows cellular operators to provide better service.
Excelcomindo plans to set up fiber-optic networks in Java. Kompas daily reported yesterday that Excelcomindo would install fiber-optic cables along Java's railway tracks, owned by state railway firm Perumka.
Muchtar Mandala said yesterday Bank Duta would make Rp 70 billion (US$29.63 million) in profit this year, up 75 percent from Rp 40 billion in 1995.
He said the higher profit was caused by a more than 20 percent credit expansion.
"Our assets will reach Rp 5 trillion this year, from about Rp 3.1 trillion last year," he said.
Publicly listed Bank Duta's management changed last year when timber tycoon Mohammad Hasan became its chief commissioner and Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo and Head of the National Logistics Agency Beddu Amang joined its board of advisors.
Mandala said Bank Duta, the first domestic bank to issue credit cards, had about 120,000 MasterCard and 80,000 Visa card holders.
A director of MasterCard International in Indonesia, Iwan Notowidigdo, said there were about 1.9 million MasterCard and 900,000 Visa card holders in Indonesia. (icn)