Yogyakarta to get new phone network

YOGYAKARTA: To ensure more people have access to telephones, the Yogyakarta provincial administration has signed an agreement to establish a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) telephone network in the region.

The agreement for the new service was made through PT Jogja Telepon Cerdas for the administration and PT Indosat Tbk.

Speaking after the signing on Thursday, administration secretary Bambang Susanto Priyohadi said as many as 200,000 telephone connections would be set up in the first phase of the project during the next two years.

About 6,000 connections would also be established for free in certain areas.

"This, hopefully, will meet with the people's needs for sufficient telephone connections," Bambang said.

The total investment of the CDMA project amounted to Rp 280 billion, of which Rp 17 billion came from the provincial budget.

"The provincial government has a 19 percent share, with a return of (initial) investment within four years," he said.

Witnessing the signing ceremony was Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, PT Jogja Telepon Cerdas director Mujono, and PT Indosat Tbk deputy director Ng Eng Hoo. -- JP.