Indonesia lifts trading ban on welfare minister`s companies

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia lifted a trading ban on three firms of Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie Friday, an official said amid reports the government is working on a rescue for his debt-ridden Bakrie & Brothers group. [more, antaranews]

Bakrie Group Shares Down by 10 Percent

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Three stocks from the Bakrie & Brothers business group lifted from trade suspension on Friday dropped by almost 10 percent at noon. [more, tempointeraktif]

Indonesia asks state businesses to buy back shares

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia's president urged state companies Thursday to buy up their own shares to quell a stampede of selling that sent the main stock index skidding more than 20 percent this week.

A trading freeze imposed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange Wednesday in response to sudden, steep loses may not be lifted until next week, said State-Owned Enterprise Minister Sofyan Jalil. [more, forbes]

INDONESIA: Astro appeals against KPPU ruling

Astro All Asia Multimedia Networks has challenged a ruling by the Indonesian anti-monopoly watchdog that the company violated the anti-monopoly law in broadcasting last season's English Premier League (EPL) in Indonesia.

The appeal was filed by the Malaysia-based holding and media company that provides and operates pay-television services, to the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday. [more, asiamedia]

Qatar Telecom says Indosat tender offer has not been called off

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Qatar Telecom said its tender offer for Indonesia's second-largest listed telecommunications company Indosat has not been called off and that it is awaiting government's clarification before continuing the process. [more, forbes]

Mega-rich Bakrie burned as liquidity crisis ripples into Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Share trading in six companies owned by Indonesia's richest man was suspended Tuesday as the effects of the global liquidity crisis rolled into Southeast Asia's biggest economy, dealers said.

The six Bakrie Group-owned companies had dropped by between a quarter and more than 40 percent as the Indonesian market took a 10 percent dive Monday after a week-long holiday at the end of the Muslim holy month. [more, antaranews]

IDX Suspends Bakrie Group Shares

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesia Stock Exchange suspended on Tuesday trade on six shares of Bakrie Broters Group a day after most of the shares lost its value over the maximum one-day limit of 30 per cent. [more, tempointeractive]

CRM, Billing From FTS Picked for Indonesia's Sampoerna

FTS (News - Alert), a vendor of billing, CRM and business control products for communication and content service providers, has announced that Sampoerna Telecom Indonesia has deployed FTS' convergent prepaid-postpaid billing and customer care product for its entire subscriber base. [more, tmcnet]

Sampoerna Telecom Indonesia (STI) Successfully Deploys FTS' Convergent Prepaid-Postpaid Billing

LONDON, September 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FTS (LSE: FTS), a global
provider of Billing, CRM and Business Control solutions for communication and
content service providers, today announced that Sampoerna Telecom Indonesia
(STI), has successfully deployed FTS' convergent prepaid-postpaid billing and
customer care solution for its entire subscriber base. [more, earthtimes]

Two Bidders for Indonesian Tower Assets

Two investment firms, Saratoga Capital and Recapital are reported to be interested in buying the tower assets currently owned by Indonesian mobile operator Excelcomindo Pratama (XL). The company currently owns over 7,000 base stations, which it values at some US$550 million. [more, cellular-news]

KPK Name Two Suspects on Bribery Case

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Corruption Eradication Commission has named Mohammad Iqbal, member of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission and Billy Sindoro President Director of First Media as suspects for bribery less than a day after the arrest was made on them.

Muhammad Iqbal will be detained at Central Jakarta Ressort Police, while Billy will be detained at West Jakarta Ressort Police, both will be under police custody for 20 days.[more, tempointeraktif]

Mobile myths, competition demystified

David O'Brien, Jakarta

Dennis Pratistha has reopened the can of worms I alluded to earlier in the year in his piece of Aug. 11, Mobile phone industry shake-up. A subsequent piece by Jakarta Post staff on Aug. 19 looks at ad spend and claims of healthy competition by the regulator and industry participants.

A review of recently published (as available for publicly held entities) first half 2008 figures makes for interesting reading. XL have managed to push their EBITDA margin up by 10 percent to 45 percent while Telkomsel as industry leader have suffered a fall from 72 percent back to 69 percent in the past year; with Indosat slipping slightly back to 50 percent (see table).[more, thejakartapost]

Indonesia Telecommunications Report Q3 2008 - www.companiesandmarkets.com adds new report.

Competition among mobile operators is intensifying. A number of new entrants to the sector have been jostling for greater market share against the larger established mobile operators, through aggressive advertising campaigns detailing competitive advantages of lowest market prices, best call quality and cheapest deals. The number of mobile subscribers has certainly grown, reaching an estimated 97.4mn at the end of 2007 and above BMI’s original estimate. [more, PR-Inside]

Victory for Qtel on Indosat stake

QTEL will be able to keep its 40.8% controlling stake in Indonesia’s Indosat.
This follows the Indonesian Supreme Court ruling that the legal challenge before it in respect of Qtel’s ownership in Indosat has ended.

Qtel chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani welcomed the court decision.
“Our controlling stake in Indosat is a key part of our group expansion plans and we are pleased that the Supreme Court’s decision removes the District Court’s order, and allows us to keep the shares we had acquired in June,” he said. [more, gulf times]

Indonesian high court says Temasek appeal rejected

JAKARTA (AFP) — Indonesia's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed by Singapore's state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings over a ruling that it breached anti-monopoly laws, the court spokesman said Friday.

"Yes, it's true," Djoko Sarwoko, one of the judges who heard the case, told AFP, confirming the ruling. [more, AFP]

News focus: Temasek loses legal battle in RI`s supreme court

Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - After a legal battle for about five months, Singapore`s state-owned investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd has to accept an unfavorable decision by the Indonesian Supreme Court (MA).

The highest law enforcing body rejected Temasek`s legal review suit against a ruling by Indonesia`s Business Competition Commission (KPPU) that the Singapore company had violated the country`s monopoly and business competition law. [more, antaranews]

This Report Describes The Booming Indonesian Mobile Telephone Market

DUBLIN, Ireland, Sep 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9ae844/indonesia_mobile) has announced the addition of the "Indonesia - Mobile Communications - Market Overview" report to their offering.

Indonesia's mobile market has grown rapidly in recent years, with the number of subscribers heading for 120 million in 2008, up from 90 million in early 2008, having grown by nearly 40% in 2007. [more, marketwatch]

Muslim cellphone keeps the faith

Indonesian Muslims struggling to balance work with the holy fasting month of Ramadan are relying on special cellphones to help them keep the faith.

Islamic gadgets are especially popular in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, during Ramadan, when religious fervour is high and devout Muslims abstain from food, drink, profanities and sexual activities from dawn-to-dusk. [more, thewindsorstar]

CTM, Telkomsel sign joint-venture agreement

Local telecommunications company CTM and Indonesian telecommunications company Telkomsel yesterday signed a joint-venture agreement to mark the launch of a new prepaid calling card which will allow Indonesians in Macau to call family and loved ones for a fraction of the price.
In a ceremony presided over by secretary for transport and public works, Lau Si Io, both sides said that the agreement would bring benefits to the local Indonesian community. [more, macaudailytimes]

Over 500 Million New Mobile Subscribers From Asia Forecast

Over 500 million new mobile subscribers are expected from Asia’s emerging economies by 2012, according to a report.

Asia's emerging markets, comprising eight nations, are expected to see mobile subscriber net gains of 573 million by end-2012, breaching the one billion mark to close the year at an estimated 1.06 billion subscribers, according to a forecast by market research company Frost & Sullivan.. [more, IQonline]

Asia-Pacific Leads in Broadband

While the Asia Pacific region is making accelerated progress in the telephony sector, the area in which the region really stands out is the uptake of advanced Internet technologies, especially broadband Internet access.

This is according to a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU launched its key Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Report for the Asia-Pacific region, at the ITU Telecom Asia 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sept. 1. [more, pcworld]

XL to launch secondary share offer by 2009

Indonesia’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers Excelcomindo (XL) says it plans to launch a secondary share offering by 2009, placing between 10% and 15% of its share capital with the public through the process. Reuters quotes company president Hasnul Suhaimi as saying that part of Malaysian mobile phone firm TM International's equity holding will be sold in the secondary offering. [more, telegeograhy]

Indosat, RIM introduce BlackBerry Bold in Indonesia

Indosat and Research In Motion (RIM) has introduced the new BlackBerry Bold smartphone in Indonesia.

The BlackBerry Bold supports HSDPA networks and features a 624 MHz processor, integrated GPS and Wi-fi, a newly designed QWERTY keyboard, improved display and multimedia capabilities. [more, DMasia]

Asia's 8 emerging markets to have 1b mobile users by 2012

ASIA'S emerging mobile markets, excluding China, are expected to see subscriber net gains of 573 million by end-2012, breaching the one billion mark to close the year at an estimated 1.06 billion subscribers.

The finding comes from a report by Frost & Sullivan covering eight nations: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, all of which have mobile penetration rates of under 50 per cent. [more, asiaone]

Report: Asia-Pacific Holds Great Potential for WiMax

Research and Markets, a research firm that conducts studies and analysis focused primarily upon the telecommunication and technology industries, reportedly has announced it is putting out a new research report, “The Asian Pacific WiMax Market 2008.” [more, Wimaxtoday]

Indonesian shares end morning higher; coal miners lead gains on oil price rise

... Indonesian CDMA-based cellular operator PT Mobile-8 Telecom rose on market speculation that the company has been a target of acquisition by a number of telecom companies, including PT Bakrie Telecom. {more, forbes]

Indonesia Excelcom plans secondary share offering by 2009

JAKARTA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third largest mobile phone operator, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK, said on Wednesday it will offer 10-15 percent of its share capital to the public through a secondary offering by 2009. [more, reuters]

Grameen Foundation, Bakrie Telecom and Qualcomm Join Efforts to Enable Affordable Telecommunications Access to Rural Indonesia

NUSA DUA, Bali, July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grameen Foundation,
Bakrie Telecom and Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) through its Wireless
Reach(TM) initiative, today announced the launch of the first Village Phone
Program in Indonesia, branded as Uber ESIA, using 3G CDMA technology to
provide affordable wireless telecommunications services for rural communities.
The launch was held at the Asia-Pacific Regional Microcredit Summit held in
Bali, Indonesia. [more, earthtimes]

Indonesia's Excelcom H1 net soars on FX, subscribers

JAKARTA, July 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third-largest mobile phone operator, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK, reported on Tuesday its net profit soared 15-fold, after doubling its subscriber numbers and on foreign exchange gains. [more, reuters]

2008 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Indonesia and Timor Leste Provides a Comprehensive Overview of the Trends and Developments in These Mark

DUBLIN, Ireland-(Business Wire)-July 23, 2008 - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5047cd/2008_asia_teleco) has announced the addition of the "2008 Asia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Indonesia and Timor Leste" report to their offering. [more, digital50.com]

Small shareholder wants cut in SingTel's directors' fees

A SMALL-time shareholder with just 190 of the company's shares hit out at what the board of directors was being paid at Singapore Telecommunications' (SingTel) annual general meeting on Friday, before 360 other shareholders and journalists. [more, straitstimes]

Telkomsel Targetkan Mobile Wallet Tumbuh 100%

Telkomsel memproyeksikan dapat menggandakan jumlah pengguna mobile wallet Telkomsel Cash atau T-Cash. Operator tersebut juga tengah mempersiapkan sistem layanan pengiriman uang (remittance) pertama melalui seluler di Indonesia. [more, studiohp]

Inflation clouds earnings, outlook for SE Asia telecoms

SINGAPORE: Southeast Asian telecoms providers look set to unveil mixed quarterly results, hit by stiff price competition and as high inflation curbs spending, but rising commodity revenues should insulate consumer demand in Thailand and Indonesia. [more, dailytimes]

Qtel launches offer for further Indosat shares, studying new regulations

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has submitted a tender offer to acquire all outstanding 'B' shares of Indosat, following its purchase last month of a 40.8% stake in the Indonesian cellco. The tender offer includes American Depositary Shares, but excludes those held by existing controlling stakeholders, according to online newspaper The Peninsula. [more, telegeography]

49% limit on Indosat acquisition

JAKARTA: Qtel will be restricted to buying as much as 49% of PT Indosat, Indonesia’s second-largest phone company, Communications Minister Mohamed Nuh said yesterday. [more, gulf-times]

Qatar Telecom's Bet on Indosat Augurs Well for Growing Market

JAKARTA -- The fortunes of PT Indosat are looking up after Qatar Telecom QSC quadrupled its stake and promised to bet more on the big Indonesian phone company. [more, wallstreet]

Indonesian telecoms mull price-fixing appeal

JAKARTA (AFP) — Indonesian telecom firms were mulling appeals Thursday after the competition watchdog found them guilty of price fixing and raking in hundreds of millions of dollars from illegal text message charges.

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) found six telecommunications companies guilty of collusion and slapped five of them with fines worth some 10 million dollars. [more, afp]

SMS cartel practices cause Rp2.827 tln in losses to consumers

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) said short message service (SMS) cartel practices in the country had caused consumers to suffer a loss of Rp2.827 trillion during the 2004 - April 2008 period.

The KPPU made the statement in its decision on Wednesday over the results of its studies about alleged SMS cartel practices by six cellular phone operators, namely PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk (XL), PT Telkomsel, PT Telkom, PT Bakrie Telecom Tbk, PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk and PT Smart Telecom. [more, antaranews]

5 Highly Rated Telecom Companies

...
If you're looking to invest in foreign telecoms, there are some intriguing opportunities in PT Indosat (NYSE: IIT) and MTN Group. The Indonesian and South African service providers are tops among 65 foreign telecom plays -- for good reasons. [more, TheMotleyFool]

Top Indonesian mobile firm in talks with Qtel

SINGAPORE: Indonesia’s top mobile firm, Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) said yesterday it was in talks with Qatar Telecom to bring its mobile payments business to the Middle East and expects to exceed its forecast of 15% revenue growth this year.
“For the new business, especially the transaction business, we have our co-operation with Qatar Telecom in the Middle East,” Kiskenda Suriahardja, president director of Telkomsel, said on the sidelines of a regional telecoms award ceremony. [more, gulf-times]

UPDATE 1-Indonesia Telkom shareholders approve share buyback

JAKARTA, June 20 (Reuters) - Shareholders of Indonesia's PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk TLKM.JK on Friday approved a plan to buy back up to 3 trillion rupiah ($323 million) worth of shares within the next 18 months.

The country's largest telecoms firm said last month it planned to buy back shares equivalent to 1.9 percent of its share capital to return excess cash to shareholders and help support the company's share price. [more, reuters]

Profit opportunities in Indonesia

...Indonesia’s fixed-line telephone company, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (NYSE: TLK, Stock Forum), is trading at a trailing P/E of 14, and features a dividend yield of 3.6%. It offers fixed-line and cell-phone services, and is the country’s traditional telephone provider, founded in 1884. ... [more, stockhouse]

Indonesia's Telkom keen on buying SingTel's stake in Telkomsel - report

SINGAPORE (Thomson Financial) - Indonesia's biggest telecom carrier, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom), is keen on buying back shares in unit Telkomsel from Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel) if the stake were to be offered for sale, the Straits Times reported on Friday.

Telkom Chairman Tanri Abeng said Telkom, being the majority owner of Telkomsel, has the first option to take the shares from SingTel, the newspaper said. [more, interactive investor]

Will Hutchison bring iPhone to Indonesia?

Yeah, it's breaking news for Indonesia's cellular market. The latest report about Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd which said it will be offering Apple's iPhone via Hong Kong and Macau, delivered another important message: Will it also bring the iPhone to Indonesia, one of the emerging markets of Asia? [more, Cnet Asia]

Excelcomindo tower sale hits rocky water

Excelcomindo’s proposed USD800 million-plus auction of a number of mobile phone towers is looking less certain after private equity firms interested in snapping up the assets expressed concern over the country’s new foreign ownership rules and the mixed messages coming from the operator. Reuters reports sources familiar with the situation as saying that private equity firms Affinity Equity Partners, Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and TPG Capital were in the hunt for a slice of Excelcom’s tower business, but are now getting cold feet. [more, telegeography]

Nokia Siemens To Deploy 3G SDP In Indosat’s Network

Saturday, May 24, 2008: Nokia Siemens Networks has been selected by Indosat, an Indonesian service provider, to implement a 3G Service Delivery Platform (SDP) in its network. Based on Nokia Siemens Networks’ service delivery framework ecosystem, the solution comprises content management, a video gateway, a video portal, video streaming, messaging gateway platform, charging and partner management as well as products from selected partners for a comprehensive solution to meet Indosat’s customers’ needs. [more, efytimes]

SingTel’s mobile customer base shows strong growth

Singapore Telecommunications Limited's (SingTel) mobile customer base in the Asia-Pacific totalled 185.34 million as of March 31, 2008. [more, idg.no]

INDONESIA: SingTel appeals court ruling

Friday, May 23, 2008. Temasek subsidiary companies, Temasek Holdings, Singapore Telecommunications and Singapore Telecom Mobile, have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court over a lesser court's ruling that found them guilty of antitrust violations. [more, asiamedia]

Indonesia's Telkom Q1 net up 5 pct on mobile users

JAKARTA, May 23 (Reuters) - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk TLKM.JK, the country's largest telecoms firm, posted a lower-than-expected 5.4 percent rise in first-quarter net profit, due to strong growth in mobile subscribers. [more, reuters]

Indosat introduces HSPA downlink speed of 14.4 MBPS

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State telecommunication operator PT Indosat Tbk has introduced access to HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), namely Phase 2 HSDPA and HSUPA for a downlink speed of up to 14.4 Mbps, and an uplink speed of up to 1.4 Mbps. [more, antaranews]

Mobile-8's CCR cut to 'B-', placed on negative watch on weak Q1 results - S&P

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it cut PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk.'s corporate credit rating to 'B-' from 'B' and placed it on negative watch, following the Indonesian telecom operator's first quarter results, which were substantially below expectations. [more, forbes]

NEC Wins PT Indosat Submarine Cable Deal

NEC has signed a contract with Indonesia's second largest telecoms company PT Indosat for the supply of a submarine cable system to link Indonesia and Singapore. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. [more, redorbit]

NEC to integrate JAKABARE submarine cable system to bridge Indonesia and Singapore

Japan's NEC Corporation today said that it had signed a turnkey contract with PT Indosat, Tbk in Indonesia for the supply of a submarine cable system to the "JAKABARE" project linking Indonesia and Singapore [more, domain-b]

NEC to integrate JAKABARE submarine cable system to bridge Indonesia and Singapore

Japan's NEC Corporation today said that it had signed a turnkey contract with PT Indosat, Tbk in Indonesia for the supply of a submarine cable system to the "JAKABARE" project linking Indonesia and Singapore [more, domain-b]

Telkomsel Selects Ericsson for Mobile Softswitch Solution

Telekomunikasi Selular Indonesia has selected Ericsson for its mobile softswitch solution, including the new MSC server blade cluster. The solution will provide a common core network platform for both GSM and WCDMA technology.

Under the three-year agreement Ericsson will also provide services including network deployment and integration.

According to Ericsson, its mobile softswitch solution (MSS) will allow Telekomunikasi Selular Indonesia (Telkomsel) to reduce its core network operating expenses. It supports improved call control and network intelligence, enabling a reduction in the number and size of main core network sites. [more, redorbit]

Axis Launches Nationwide Gsm Network in Indonesia

Indonesia gained a new nationwide GSM network today when Axis launched commercial services. The parent company, Natrindo Telepon Seluler has actually operated a GSM network since 2001 under the Lippotel brand, but has now expanded its network and relaunched its services. [more, cellular-news]

Government sets target of all areas in RI having broadband access in 2015

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has set itself the target of making all areas in Indonesia have broadband access for connection to universal internet in 2015, a minister has said.

"At a meeting in Bangkok last week, APEC telecommunications and industry ministers set a target of making all countries in Asia and the Pacific including Indonesia have broadband access in 2015," Communications and Informatics Minister Muhammad Nuh said here Tuesday. [more, antaranews]

XL`s Q1 profit up 109 pct

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Publicly-listed cellular phone operator PT Excelcomindo Pratama (XL) Tbk said on Wednesday its net profit in the first quarter of 2008 jumped 109 percent to Rp368 billion from the same period last year. [more, antaranews]

Indonesia's Excelcom Q1 net profit doubles

JAKARTA, April 30 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third-largest mobile phone operator, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK, reported on Wednesday a doubling in first-quarter net profit, thanks to a sharp rise in its subscribers. [more, reuters]

HSPA Mobile Broadband Overtakes Fixed Broadband in Indonesia

The GSM Association (GSMA) announced that the number of mobile broadband (HSPA) connections in Indonesia has surpassed the number of fixed broadband connections. At the end of 2007, 315,000 Indonesians were accessing the Internet via this high-speed mobile technology, while fixed-broadband connections were approximately 300,000. [more, sdaasia)

Telkom To Buy Stake In Cos In Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka

JAKARTA -(Dow Jones)- PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Thursday said it plans to buy a minority stake in call center and content provider companies in Singapore and Malaysia and in wireless companies in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"We expect to complete the stake purchase in the four companies later this year," Telkom President Commissioner Tanri Abeng told reporters. [more, cellular-news]

Telekomunikasi Indonesia upgraded to 'Baa3' - Moody's

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Moody's Investors Service upgraded PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), citing a fundamentally strong operating and financial profile, and 'continued improvement in perceived efforts to improve standards of corporate governance, financial reporting and overall transparency.' [more, forbes]

UPDATE 1-Indonesia's Excelcom says may delay, cancel share offer

JAKARTA, April 4 (Reuters) - Indonesian mobile phone operator PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK said on Friday it could delay or even scrap a plan to increase its free market float via a secondary offering if market conditions were not favourable. [more, reuters]

PT Telkom opens up domestic long distance call service to rival

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has opened up its domestic long distance call service to its rival PT Indosat Tbk starting from today, an information ministry official said.

"Principally, both parties reached an agreement just before mid-night last night," Gatot Dewa Broto, head of communications at the ministry's post and telecommunications directorate, told Thomson Financial. [more, antaranews]

Local equipment developer fuels growth for WiMAX in Indonesia

WiMAX equipment doesn't have to be an import solution. This is the message from PT Hariff Daya Tunggal Engineering (Hariff DTE), a system manufacturer in Indonesia. The company recently unveiled its HiMAX-231 network solution. Based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and using the Wavesat DM256 chipset, the 2.3 GHz Base Station and Subscriber Station were designed, developed and manufactured in Indonesia. [more, wimax.com]

Indonesia - Telecom Country Profile is an Exclusive Report Providing You with an Analysis of the Country’s Competitive Environment

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c87523) has announced the addition of Indonesia - Telecom Country Profile to their offering.

This 36-page report will give you a complete snap-shot of Indonesia's telecom environment, providing you with all the information you need to be successful in this market. [more, businesswire]

Govt expects report on new tariffs from operators on Apr 7

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government, in this case the Communications and Information Ministry, is hoping a report from telecommunication operators on the application of new tariffs for interconnection on Monday (Apr 7). [more, antaranews]

Indonesia's Telkom, Indosat in last minute talks on long-distance call service

JAKARTA, Apr 03, 2008 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- PSATF | news | PowerRating | PR Charts --PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom), the country's biggest telephone operator, said on Thursday it is hoping to reach an agreement on domestic long distance services with its rival PT Indosat Tbk by today.
Telkom must allow its fixed-line subscribers, initially in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, to use the alternative "011" access code provided by rival Indosat by today. [more, tradingmarkets]

Wavesat Powers First Broadband Wireless Access Equipment in Indonesia

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA and BANDUNG, INDONESIA -- 04/02/08 -- Wavesat, supplier of Broadband wireless semiconductor solutions and Hariff, a system manufacturer, announced the first broadband wireless access equipment designed for Indonesia.

The HiMAX-231, a WiMAX based 2.3 GHz Basestation and Subscriber unit solution manufactured by Hariff DTE, was officially launched on Friday February 29 in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The Governor of West Java Province, the Director General Application and Telematica Dept. of Indonesian Communication and Information, top Executives from TELCO Operators and many others were present at PT Hariff Daya Tunggal Engineering (Hariff DTE) head office for this unique event in the Indonesian telecom industry. [more, earthtimes]

The Number of Total Wireless Subscribers in Indonesia Will Increase from 92.8 Million to 146.5 Million from 2007 - 2010

IEMR’s Mobile Forecast on Indonesia provides over 65 operational and financial metrics for the Indonesia wireless market. We cover quarterly historical data starting in 3Q2003 and ending in 3Q2007. We also provide four-year forecasts at the operator level going out to 2010. Operators covered for Indonesia include: Telkomsel, Satelindo + IM3, Excelcomindo, Telkom Flexi, StarOne, and Other new entrants. Our Mobile Forecasts are updated quarterly and are available for one-time delivery or through regular updates. [more, businesswire]

Indosat`s 2007 profit up 44 pct to Rp2.04 trillion

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Publicly-listed telecommunication operator PT Indosat Tbk last year posted a net profit of Rp2.042 trillion, up 44.8 percent from a year earlier.

"The increase in net profit was the result of increased revenues from Indosat`s three business units, namely cellular phone services, fixed data or multimedia services, and fixed telephone services," Indosat President Director Johnny Swandi Sjam said on Monday. [more, antaranews]

StarHub introduces pay-per-day flat rate data roaming service

At launch, the pay-per-day data roaming flat-rate service will be available in six destinations with a Conexus Mobile Alliance network. They are namely, Taiwan (Far EasTone), Hong Kong (Hutchison Telecommunications), Japan (NTT DoCoMo), South Korea (KTF), The Philippines (Smart Communications) and Indonesia (PT Indosat). In addition, customers also enjoy a 50 per cent discount for mobile data access, at S$0.01 per kilobyte at these destinations. [more, hardwarezone]

UPDATE 1-Indonesia's Indosat Q4 net profit up 23.6 pct

JAKARTA, March 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia's second-largest mobile phone operator, PT Indosat Tbk ISAT.JK, saw a better-than-expected 23.6 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit, thanks to strong growth in its subscriber base.

The company, around 40 percent owned by Asia Mobile Holdings, saw mobile phone users expand by 47 percent to 24.5 million last year, beating 38 percent growth for the overall industry. [more, reuters]

Nokia Siemens Networks in expansion deal for Hutchison Telecom Indonesia

Nokia Siemens Networks has signed a contract with PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications to strengthen its GSM/WCDMA network coverage in the islands of Java and Sumatra, and roll out GSM core networks in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. This contract supplements HCPT's first network contract with Siemens Indonesia in 2005. [more, financialmirror]

PT Telkom selects Alcatel-Lucent to deploy nation-wide Data Recovery Service network

Paris, March 26, 2008 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU)announced today that PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (PT Telkom), the incumbent fixed telephone service provider in Indonesia, has chosen Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a national Data Recovery Service (DRS) network connecting ten cities across the country. By deploying a highly resilient IP/MPLS-based network, PT Telkom ensures business continuity for its mission critical operations. [more, mysolutioninfo]

80 Million People in Indonesia Now Own Mobile Phones but the Penetration Rate is Still Less Than Forty Percent Offering Significant Opportunities for

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c86804) has announced the addition of “Indonesia Mobile Services Market in 2008 with an Assessment of the Mobile VAS Data and Mobile Content Market” to their offering.

In Indonesia the mobile operators, music and film companies, cartoon artists, game makers and musicians are all aggressively entering the mobile content market to provide ring tones, gaming, mobile imagery and streaming audio and video. [more, businesswire]

Indonesia passes bill to block porn sites

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to restrict access to pornographic and violent sites on the Internet after the country's parliament passed a new information bill, officials said on Tuesday. [more, reuters]

Nokia Siemens wins Indonesia network deal

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia Siemens Networks NSN.UL said on Monday it had won a telecoms network expansion order from Hutchison CP Telecommunications Indonesia (HCPT), without disclosing the value of the deal. [more, reuters]

Huawei Indonesia to Expand Local Talents

uawei Technologies, provider next-generation telecommunications networks is set to double its headcounts in Indonesia to 2,000 employees in 2008 as part of its regional expansion programmed. Its wholly-owned unit in Indonesia, PT Huawei Tech Investment, will increase its work force from existing over 1,000 employees of whom 85% are local in year 2007 to 2,000 employees in year 2008. [more, sda-asia]

Indonesia's Indosat FY net profit seen up 28-49 percent on subscriber growth

JAKARTA, Mar. 19, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Indonesia's second-biggest telecom company PT Indosat (NYSE:IIT) is expected to report next Wednesday a 28-49 percent growth in 2007 net profit largely due to a robust increase in the number of its subscribers, analysts polled by Thomson Financial said. [more, CNNMoney]

Hutchison Telecom Delivers Return in Transformational Year Customer Base Grows to 10 Million

...In Indonesia, we announced today our agreement to sell up to 3,692 towers to PT Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia ("Protelindo") , a specialist tower company, for a consideration of approximately HK$3.9 billion (US$500 million) which is expected to generate a profit on disposal of approximately HK$1.8 billion. [more, prnewswire]

CORRECTION Indonesia's Mobile-8 Telecom outlook cut to negative - S&P

MUMBAI, Mar. 19, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- (Correcting agency name in headline of story transmitted earlier today)
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services revised the outlook on Indonesia's wireless operator PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk (OOTC:PTMBF) to negative from stable and affirmed the 'B' long-term corporate credit rating on the company. [more, CNNMoney]

Indonesia's CDMA fast growing

Ah yes. Nowadays, CDMA2000 1x is no longer a new kid on the block in Indonesia's mobile industry The Jakarta Post (its print edition) reported today that PT Bakrie Telecom, the publicly listed telecom behind CDMA mobile brand Esia, saw its subscriber base increase 147 percent last year. [more, cnetasia]

Bakrie Telecom chalks up 98 pct increase in net profit

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - The net profit of publicly traded telecommunications company PT Bakrie Telecom (JSX:BTEL) shot up 98.5 per cent to Rp144.27 billion (US$16 million) last year, from only Rp72.68 billion in the previous year. [more, antaranews]

UPDATE 2-Indonesia's Telkom sees '08 profit up 11-12 pct

JAKARTA, March 13 (Reuters) - Indonesia's top telecoms company, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk TLKM.JK, said on Thursday its net profit is expected to rise by 11-12 percent this year, short of analyst forecasts, as competition in the sector squeezes growth. [more, reuters]

Indonesia's Excelcom says may lift free float in H2

JAKARTA, March 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third-largest mobile phone firm, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK, said on Sunday it may raise its free float of shares to above 10 percent in the second half of 2008. [more, reuters]

Telkomsel to deploy state-of-the art location based services to its customers across Indonesia

Nokia Siemens Networks will enable PT Telekomunikasi Selular Tbk (Telkomsel), the biggest mobile telecommunication provider in Indonesia, to provide innovative value added services for its 50 million active subscribers and thus enhance users’ mobile experience. [more, techwhack]

Telkomsel to deploy state-of-the art location based services to its customers across Indonesia

Nokia Siemens Networks will enable PT Telekomunikasi Selular Tbk (Telkomsel), the biggest mobile telecommunication provider in Indonesia, to provide innovative value added services for its 50 million active subscribers and thus enhance users’ mobile experience. [more, webwire]

Telkom ready to cut its telephone tariffs by 20 percent

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State telecommunication operator PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom) will cut the retail tariff of all of its services by an average of 20 percent when the government-sanctioned reduced cost-based interconnection tariff takes effect on April 1, 2008 , a spokesman said.

"Our telephone tariff will be reduced by an average of 20 percent. It will apply to all our services, including cellular phone (Telkomsel) and fixed wires (Flexi)," Telkom`s Enterprises and Wholesale Services Director Arief Yahya told ANTARA on Friday. [more, antaranews]

Indonesian telecom company's internet traffic down to 10%

JAKARTA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Internet traffic of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) was down to 10 percent on Friday as undersea fiber optic connections to Singapore, which connect the country to the rest of the world, failed to function.

As the main provider for internet traffic connection, Telkom said its fiber optic failure did not completely cut internet services, The Jakarta Post daily reported on Saturday. [more, xinhua]

Indonesian CDMA Operator Passes 3 Million Subscriber Mark

Indonesian CDMA operator Mobile-8 Telekom has ended 2007 with just over 3m customers, as the number of connections rose by 65% year on year. Mobile-8 launched just over four years ago in December 2003 and has since built a market share of just over 3% in Indonesia, where it competes with three giant operators in the shape of Telkomsel, Satelindo and Excelcomindo, as well as new entrant Hutch and two minor players. [more, cellular-news]

BlackBerry gains popularity in Indonesia

Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), BlackBerry has started to gain popularity in Indonesia.

The country's biggest operators, Indosat, Telkomsel and Excelcom, already launched this service.

Indonesian telco Indosat aims to add 6 mln users by end of year

JAKARTA, Feb 26, 2008 (Asia In Focus via COMTEX) --- Indonesia's second largest telecommunications company PT INDOSAT (JSX:ISAT) said it is set to maintain its 28 per cent market share amid tight competition in the country. The company hopes to close this year with the number of its subscribers rising to 30.5 million from 24.5 million by the end of last year, its President Johnny Swandi Sjam said. [more, tradingmarkets.com]

Telecommunication cut in hardest quake hit area in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Telecommunication was cut at the hardest-hit area of Sinabang town in Siemelu island of Aceh province after a powerful earthquake hit the area, Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency and the National Disaster Management Agency said here Wednesday. [more, xinhuanet]

Indonesia's Indosat plans 1.5 trln rph bonds in H1

JAKARTA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia's second-largest mobile phone operator, PT Indosat Tbk, said on Wednesday it plans to raise as much as 1.5 trillion rupiah ($163.8 million) in bonds in the first half to finance its expansion.

Indosat ISAT.JK, around 40 percent owned by Asia Mobile Holdings, said a maximum of 1 trillion rupiah will be through conventional debt while the rest will be in sharia compliant bonds. [more, reuters]

Indonesia Excelcom doubles 2007 net as user numbers grow

JAKARTA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia's third-largest mobile phone operator, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk EXCL.JK, said on Wednesday its 2007 net profit more than doubled, driven by strong subscriber growth.

Excelcom's subscriber base jumped 62 percent to 15.5 million, representing around 17 percent market share. [more, reuters]

Datacraft Upgrades Operations for PT Excelcomindo Pratama (XL)

Datacraft has completed construction of a new data centre and an intelligent network for Indonesian-based mobile operator PT Excelcomindo Pratama (known as XL). This new data centre enabling the carrier to expand its subscriber services to include 3G-based video calls, music, and movie downloads, games, news-on-demand, and location-based services. [more, SDA Asia]

Bakrie Telecom set to attract 7 mln Esia subscribers

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Publicly-listed telecommunication operator PT Bakrie Telecom Tbk has set itself the target of enticing 7 million subscribers to its Esia fixed wireless services this year compared to 3.8 million last year.

"We have set ourselves the target of enticing 7 million subscribers and will build 1000 base transceiver stations (BTS) in 2008," the company`s finance director, Jastiro Abi, said following the signing of a cooperation agreement with Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) here Wednesday. [more, antaranews]

Indonesia's Mobile-8 under review for possible downgrade - Moody's

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Moody's Investors Service said it has placed its 'B2' corporate family and senior unsecured bond ratings of Indonesia's fourth-largest cellular operator, PT Mobile-8 Telecom Tbk, under review for possible downgrade. [more, hemscott]

Mobile-8 to Replace President, Executives, People Say

Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- PT Mobile-8 Telecom, Indonesia's worst-performing telecommunications stock, will replace its president and two executives next month after failing to meet subscriber targets, two people familiar with the plan said.

Wityasmoro Sih Handayanto, head of parent PT Global Mediacom's information-technology division, will succeed Hidajat Tjandradjaja as president at the annual meeting, said the people, who asked not to be identified before an official announcement. Merza Fachys, Mobile-8's director in charge of corporate affairs, declined to confirm or deny the changes. [more, bloomberg]