VoIP operators forced to tie up

VoIP operators forced to tie up

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is pushing 12 unlicensed Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) operators to set up a joint-operation scheme with
two operators, PT Gaharu Sejahtera and PT Atlassat Solusindo,
said Directorate General of Post and Telecommunications spokesman
Gatot S. Dewa Broto.

Gatot said on Monday that his office was involved in talks
with the 12 VoIP operators.

The VoIP operators are considered illegal because the
government said that they had not been granted the necessary
licenses. Authorities recently raided the operators.

Only five operators have licenses. In addition to Gaharu and
Atlassat, the legal VoIP operators include companies linked to
state-owned telecommunications firms PT Telkom, PT Indosat and PT
Satelindo.

The 12 VoIP operators have protested against the government
policy to limit the number of operators. In a bid to resolve the
problem, the government has proposed that the other operators set
up joint operations with Gaharu and Atlassat.

But the 12 VoIP operators preferred to set up joint operations
with Telkom's unit, arguing that the credibility and commitment
of Gaharu and Atlassat were in doubt.

A source said that the minister of communications was believed
to be backing Gaharu and Atlassat.

The directorate general of post and telecommunications
recently barred the 12 operators from pursuing a deal with
Telkom's unit to set up a joint operation business.

Experts said that the move has created new uncertainty in the
sector since according to Ministerial Decree No. 23/2002,
companies that are granted licenses to operate VoIPs are free to
cooperate with any company.