Cellular operators not be added (2/01)

The government would not give a new license of cellular telecommunication operators due to lots of operators and tight competition among them. Director General Post and Telecommunication of the Ministry of Communication and Information Basuki Yusuf Iskandar said there was a tight competition in cellular telecommunication sector and its penetration reached 30% or equal to 80 million subscribers. Currently, there are eight cellular operators: Smart Telecom, Telkomsel, Excelcomindo Pratama, Indosat, Hutchison CP Telecommunication, Natrindo Telepon Seluler, Mobile-8 Telecom, and PT Sampoerna Telekomunikasi Indonesia. The only fixed telephone operator which has not received a license, is PT Bakrie Telecom Tbk. The operator only has license of CDMA-based technology wireless fixed telephone.