Toll-free haj number set

Toll-free haj number set

JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned international telecommunications provider PT Indosat will make it easier for Indonesians performing the haj pilgrimage this year to call home.

"Just dial 1-800-62 from any telephone in Saudi Arabia and the call will reach an operator in Indonesia," Indosat's executive, Fadzri Sentosa, said yesterday.

The service will be available through hotel-room telephones or any public telephone.

"No coin and card will be needed when public telephones are used for the toll free facility," Fadzri guaranteed, adding that the calls will be charged to the receivers in Indonesia.

He said that the service, called Indonesia Direct Haj, was prepared in cooperation with Saudi Telcom.

Indosat, now with 350 staff members handling international calls, will hire a total of 405 multidialect operators during this year's haj pilgrimage season from March 22 to May 29. (icn)