Indonesian Networks Sign Tower Sharing Deal

Indonesia's Excelcomindo (XL) has signed a tower sharing deal with Hutchison Telecoms Indonesian subsidiary, PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications (HCPT). There are also unconfirmed reports coming in that the company has also signed a similar deal with the tiny local GSM operator, Lippo Telecom.

Under the agreement with HCPT, the operator will share base station towers with Excelcomindo for periods of up to 12 years. The company said that the co-operation will enable it to install its equipment in new areas in a much shorter time than otherwise.

Dennis Lui, chief executive officer of Hutchison Telecom said: "This arrangement with Excelcomindo will greatly assist the acceleration of HCPT's network rollout in Indonesia. Together with our other network expansion plans in the country HCPT will fast become a nationwide operator."

According to figures from the Mobile World service, HCPT had just over 1.6 million GSM subscribers at the end of September. Lippo Telecom had a mere 4,000 subscribers, having never really broken into the local market, and has only ever peaked at 114,000 subscribers back in 2004.

Lippo Telecom (Natrindo Telepon Seluler) is one of the 5 operators which acquired the 3G operating license in Indonesia. The company is established by Lippo Group through Across Asia Multimedia, and has provided GSM services since April 2001.

PT Hutchison CP Telecommunications trades locally under the parent company's global brand - 3.

Posted to the site on 13th December 2007