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]