Indosat Launches Two New BlackBerry Smartphones

The BlackBerry Curve 8300 is an innovative smartphone designed for customers who want a feature-rich multimedia phone with best-in-class mobile voice and data communication capabilities. It enables people on the move to make calls, send emails, surf the Internet, take and send photographs, listen to music, watch videos, access their organizer, and enjoy a range of other business and leisure applications. [more, huliq.com]

Indonesian govt to issue ruling on telecom tower-sharing by year-end

JAKARTA (Thomson Financial) - The Indonesian government is planning to issue a new ruling that will require mobile phone operators to share their transmitting towers to create a more efficient industry infrastructure, said an official at the Communications and Information Ministry. [more, abcmoney]

Indonesia's Telkom keen to expand abroad -chairman

(Telkom), Indonesia's largest telecommunications firm, is very keen to move beyond its home market and make acquisitions abroad to boost profit growth, its chairman Tanri Abeng said on Tuesday. Telkom (TLKM.JK: Quote, Profile, Research)(TLK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will target emerging markets such as the Middle East and southeast Asia, and could also look for small stakes in companies in developed economies, Abeng told Reuters at a financial forum in Beijing. [more, reuters]

SingTel's Mobile Subscribers Up 57%

The regional subscriber base of State-owned Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) has grown by a staggering 57 per cent in the past year as the company takesadvatage of massive mobile phone growth in the Asia region. [more, mobilised]

SAT-GE aids growth of PT Telkom in Eastern Indonesia services roll-out

[ Bethesda, Maryland Business Wire via ITWeb, 1 November 2007 ] - SAT-GE, a provider of unique C and Ku-band satellite coverage stretching across the Pacific Ocean Region from coast-to-coast, today announced the provision of satellite capacity across Eastern Indonesia for PT Telkom, the leading incumbent telecommunications operator in Indonesia.Using multiple transponders on the GE-23 satellite, PT Telkom are able to rapidly extend their GSM/CDMA network and other services over Eastern Indonesia, providing connectivity deep into Papua, Maluku and Sulawesi. [more, ITWeb]

Indosat confirms additional loan for network expansion

Indonesia’s second largest telecoms company by subscribers, PT Indosat, says it has secured an additional loan of IDR400 billion (USD44.4 million) from Bank Central Asia (BCA) to help finance its network expansion programme. The telco has now borrowed a total of IDR2 trillion from BCA. [more, telegeography]

INDONESIA'S INDOSAT GETS ADDITIONAL LOAN TO FINANCE EXPANSION

JAKARTA, Nov 02, 2007 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- PSATF charts news PowerRating -- The country's second largest telecommunications company PT Indosat (JSX:ISAT) said it has received an additional loan of Rp400 billion (US$44.4 million) bringing its total loan to Rp2 trillion from Bank Central Asia (BCA).
The loan to be used to help finance its spending this year will mature in 2012, Indosat President Johnny Swandi said. [more, tradingmarkets]

BRIEFING - ASIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS - NOV 1, 2007

Nov 01, 2007 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- LTCLF charts news PowerRating -- An executive briefing on the telecommunications industry for Nov 1, 2007, prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities.
LG TELECOM OUTPACES KTF IN LURING NEW CUSTOMERS IN OCT
SEOUL - LG Telecom Ltd., South Korea's smallest mobile service carrier, outperformed its bigger rival KTF Co. (KSE:032390) in attracting new customers in October, according to data released by each operator Thursday. [more, tradingmarkets]

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]

Temasek submits final defence in anti-monopoly case

INDONESIA : Temasek Holdings has submitted its final defence in the anti-monopoly case against it by Indonesian watchdog KPPU. The Singapore investment company was charged with violating Indonesia's anti-monopoly laws through its stake in two large mobile telecommunication operators. [more, channelnewsasia]

Govt urges Indosat to hasten construction of fixed network

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Director General of Post and Telecommunications Basuki Yusuf Iskandar has urged Indosat to step up the construction a CDMA fixed and local network in Indonesia in securing telephone subscribers of network.Basuki made the remarks on the sidelines of a fast-breaking get together with executives of the Ministry of Communications and Information in Jakarta on Tuesday. [more, antaranews]

DGPT warns Indosat over slow pace of fixed network rollout

Indonesia’s telecoms regulator, the Directorate General of Posts and Telecommunications (DGPT), has warned PT Indosat over its apparent ‘sluggishness’ in rolling out its fixed line and fixed wireless (CDMA) networks. According to reports in The Jakarta Post, the director general met with Indosat officials last week to discuss his concerns and warn the company about the ‘lack of development in its fixed networks’. The verbal warning is seen as a precursor to possible sanctions should Indosat fail to get its house in order. Nevertheless, the verbal reprimand is a clear warning that the DGPT will not stand idly by if the company fails to – in its opinion – make good on its initial development commitments. [more, telegeography]

Temasek to Defend Against Indonesia Anti-Monopoly Ruling

Singapore's state investment firm Temasek Holdings said on Wednesday that it would defend itself against the findings by Indonesia's anti-trust body KPPU that it had violated the country's anti-monopoly laws.
"Temasek Holdings will vigorously defend its legal rights at all opportunities and in all available legal forums. As legal counsel for Temasek Holdings, I will be seeking clarification from KPPU on this matter," Temasek said in a statement to Reuters, quoting its lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis. "The claims against Temasek Holdings are baseless and without merit," the email said. [more, cnbc]

IM2 launches HSDPA wireless broadband package

INDOSATM2 (IM2), a wholly owned subsidiary of PT Indosat in Indonesia which offers internet, multimedia and other IP-based services, has announced the launch of its IM2 ECO! Package, writes The Jakarta Post. The new service will allow subscribers to gain access to high speed wireless broadband services based on High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology in ten cities, for IDR160,000 (USD17.64) per month. The launch is part of the company’s ‘Broadband Anywhere’ initiative, launched in December last year to provide an affordable wireless broadband option across the archipelago. IMS also offers three other subscription bundles: YOU!, PRO! and MAX!, costing IDR350,000, IDR625,000 and IDR900,000 per month, respectively. [more, telegeography]

Telekom Malaysia, Excelcomindo ratings on negative watch - S&P

MUMBAI, Oct. 1, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) Ratings Services placed its ratings on Telekom Malaysia Bhd and its Indonesian unit PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk on creditwatch with negative implications, after Telekom Malaysia said it plans to separate its cellular and international operations from its fixed-line business. [more, cnnmoney]

Indonesian shares end morning sharply higher led by Indosat, Telkom

JAKARTA (Thomson Financial) - Indonesian shares closed the morning session sharply higher led by Indosat and Telkom on expectations of strong earnings in the telecom sector, with the firmer rupiah underpinning the positive sentiment. [more, forbes]

Telecommunications industry wide open for development

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The telecommunications industry in Indonesia is still open to further development, both in terms of technology and public service."Many investors are still keenly interested in the development of the telecommunications industry in Indonesia, in view of its still low penetration and teledensity compared to these aspects in other countries, especialy in South East Asia," President Director of Smart Telecom, Sutikno Wijaya said here Friday. [more, antaranews]