YLKI opposes plan to raise cell phone rate
YLKI opposes plan to raise cell phone rate
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) called
on the government on Thursday to delay a 23 percent rise in
airtime rates for regular cellular phone services beginning next
month.
YLKI's vice chairman Agus Pambagio said on Thursday it would
certainly not be wise to raise the rate when most people still
felt the brunt of the country's economic crisis.
"I think it be should postponed for another one or two
months," he said.
He urged cellular operators to use the time to explain to
customers the real reason behind the raise and what they could
offer in return for the extra money customers must pay.
"If they cannot satisfactorily pledge a better service in
return for the rate hike, then they should not raise the rate at
all," he added.
The House of Representatives agreed on Monday to raise the
airtime rates by 23 percent to Rp 400 per minute from Rp 325 at
present.
The government initially proposed a 30 percent raise, while
legislators agreed to let operators raise the rate by 15 percent
only. Both figures, however, are still below the 45 percent raise
proposed by cellular operators.
The chairman of House Commission IV for telecommunications and
transportation, Burhanuddin Napitupulu, said the Ministry of
Communications was expected to issue a decree to authorize the
rate increase by the end of this month and apply the new rate
next month.
Agus said the immediate implementation of the new airtime rate
would not likely yield much profit for cellular operators because
of the high cost of cellular technology and investment to the
operators.
"The rate hike may instead prompt people to reduce their
cellular phone usage. Many current cell phone users actually
aren't financially capable to pay the bills," he said. He
suggested that people with weak buying power stop pushing
themselves into using cell phones.
Separately, Minister of Communications Giri Suseno hinted that
it was unlikely his office would immediately implement the new
rate.
"We are still looking at the best time to implement the rate
adjustment. I'd say we'll wait until the public is ready for it,"
he said.
There are currently seven cellular phone network providers in
the country serving three systems: the Advanced Mobile Phone
System (AMPS), the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
and the Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) system. They serve over 1.6
million subscribers. (01/cst)