Telstra bids for networks

Telstra bids for networks

JAKARTA (JP): Telstra Corporation Ltd. of Australia reported yesterday that it is bidding for the expansion of local telecommunication networks in Central Java and Sumatra under a build, operate and transfer agreement with PT Telkom.

Ross Abbott, Telstra's general manager for Indonesia, said that his company, together with its partners in the consortium of Mitra Global Telekomunikasi Indonesia, has filed its bids with Telkom, the state-owned domestic telecommunications company.

Telstra's consortium partners include PT Indosat, the state- owned international telecommunications firm, and NTT of Japan. Abbott said that the consortium, under the bidden contracts, will increase telecommunication networks in the two territories from around 150,000 lines to 550,000 lines.

He said that Telstra will also develop and operate a trunk private mobile radio service in a number of Indonesian cities over the next five years.

Meanwhile, Telstra, in cooperation with Indosat, is building a new optical fiber submarine cable between Australia and Indonesia, which will start operation at the end of 1996, he said.(32)