Indonesia gained a new nationwide GSM network today when Axis launched commercial services. The parent company, Natrindo Telepon Seluler has actually operated a GSM network since 2001 under the Lippotel brand, but has now expanded its network and relaunched its services.
AXIS President Commissioner Eng. Saud Al-Daweesh said Indonesia's combination of a large population with low penetration rate and relatively high GDP per capita is a very promising market for telecommunications investors. "Our estimate is that over 150 million people in Indonesia are waiting for affordable GSM services," he said. "The potential here is fantastic for an innovative GSM provider like AXIS to contribute to the growth of the nation by making GSM affordable to all Indonesians," he added.
AXIS now operates in East and West Java and the Jabodetabek area and by the end of this year will have 3,700 BTS as its coverage spreads to Banten, North Sumatra, Central Java, Bali and Lombok. AXIS will have spent US$1 billion by the end of 2008 on an aggressive network expansion in Java and Sumatra.
Its major shareholders are Saudi Telecom and Malaysia's Maxis Communications.
PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler (NTS) originally began its operation in 2001 by
providing GSM-based mobile telephone service to approximately 20,000 subscribers
in Surabaya and Malang, although that figure has dropped since then. NTS now
also holds a 3G license in Indonesia.
Figures from the Mobile World note that Indonesia ended last year with around 93.4 million subscribers - which is still just a 37% population penetration level.
On the web: Axis - Mobile World
Posted to the site on 29th April 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/30837.php