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]

ST Telemedia submits defence in Indonesia anti-monopoly case

JAKARTA : Singapore Technologies Telemedia has presented its defence against allegations that it violated Indonesia's anti-monopoly law. The company's lawyers, who are in the Indonesia capital Jakarta to appear before a panel from the anti-monopoly watchdog (KPPU), expressed concerns over the allegations. [more, channelnewsasia]

ST Telemedia Increases Equity Stake in Global Crossing

... Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) is a leading player in the telecommunications and information services industry, with core competencies in mobile telephony and global IP services. ST Telemedia invests in and manages an innovative group of companies globally, including StarHub, Indosat, Global Crossing, TeleChoice, Camshin and Lao Telecoms. [more, CNNMoney]

Altimo insists on Indonesia investment

... "We will never give up on our plan, including the possibility of buying a mobile telecoms operator here," Altimo local chief representative Soeharto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. [more, thejakartapost]

Alfa reps to accompany Russian president to RI

... According to a story by Russia's online business news portal Kommersant published last week, the main objective of Alfa's visit is to negotiate with the Indonesian government for the purchase of a 41 percent stake in the country's main telecommunication company, Indosat. [more, thejakartapost]

Govt told to improve telcom service

House of Representatives Commission I overseeing information, defense and foreign affairs told the government Wednesday to provide a cheap telecommunication service to the public by revising industry regulations. The commission said it would stay away from the buy-back controversy on foreign ownership in PT Indosat and PT Telkomsel. [more, thejakartapost]

Indonesia's Indosat end-June mobile users up 20 pct

JAKARTA, July 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia's second-largest telecommunications firm, PT Indosat Tbk (ISAT.JK: Quote, Profile, Research), had 20 million mobile phone users by the end of June, up from 16.7 million at the end of 2006, its president director said on Wednesday. [more, reuters.co.uk]

Indonesia-Singapore relations: Strained again?

... On the investments of Temasek, the investing arm of Singapore's government, in Indonesia's telecommunications sector, especially Indosat, Indonesians have to be reminded that when we needed the funds, there were not many buyers, and Singapore bought the Indosat shares at a premium price. Thus, if we intend to buy back the shares, it should be done at the prevailing market prices. That is the way to conduct business and there are no short-cuts. [more, thejakartapost]

Indonesian government caps new FDI in telecoms sector

The government of Indonesia has adopted legislation to cap new foreign investment in the country’s telecoms market, the trade minister said on Wednesday. The move, which is designed to protect national interests, comes amid rising concerns from some Indonesian politicians over the growing influence of foreign businesses in what is currently Southeast Asia’s leading economy. [more, telegeography.com]

05-07-2007: Maxis, TM may be spared from cutting stake in Indonesian units

Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Maxis Communications Bhd may have escaped having to cut their respective stakes in their Indonesian investments.
Indonesia announced yesterday a cap on new foreign investment in parts of the transport, property and fast-growth telecoms sectors in the name of protecting national interests. [more, theedgedaily.com]

Indonesia caps new diversified foreign investment

JAKARTA: Indonesia has capped new foreign investment in sectors such as transport, property and fast-growth telecoms, the trade minister said on Wednesday, citing a need to protect the national interest.The new ruling, effective from Tuesday, comes amid concerns raised by some politicians over the growing influence of foreign business in Southeast Asia’s top economy after a series of state asset sales since the Asia crisis a decade ago. [more, thenews]

SingTel Faces Probe By Indonesia Competition Commission

SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- Singapore Telecommunications will be scrutinized by Indonesia's business competition regulator over allegations of monopolistic practices in the Muslim nation's telecommunications industry, the company said Friday. SingTel said in a statement that it and its Singapore Telecom Mobile Pte. Ltd. unit have been called before the Commission for Supervision of Business Competition, but didn't give a date for the hearing. [more, cellular-news]

ST Telemedia not to sell its stake in Indosat

... "We made it clear that our stake in Indosat is a long-term investment. We have a commitment to see our investment grow, so that we are equally committed to see Indosat grow. Therefore we have no reason to sell the shares," STT Senior Vice President for Strategic Relations and Corporate Communications Kuan Kwee Jee told the press here on Thursday. [more, antarnews]