Many operators rule SMS tariff "It's only usual business cooperation"

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has already found four operators among eight suspected operators who agreed to rule the SMS tariff. In an investigation on Monday, the investigation council said PT Bakrie Telecom management admitted to have signed an agreement on SMS tariff with PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) and PT Excelcomindo Pratama. "Similar to PT Hutchinson, they admitted on the agreement on price that should not lower than Rp 250-350,"said the council chairman Dedie Martadisastra. But, Director for Corporate Services of Bakrie Telecom, Rakhmat Junaidi, denied there was a cartel in the application of SMS tariff. "Actually, there is no cartel. We have explained it." In an investigation yesterday, Indosat said the company was not involved in the cooperation agreement. But, as a company which introduced SMS, Indosat (formerly Satelindo) applied tariff of Rp 350 since there was no regulation on SMS tariff at that time.