Government To Go On With New Telephone Tarifs
Jakarta, Kompas Online
The government has decided to pursue the new
domestic telephone
tarifs at an average increase of 24 percent starting
February 1 1999.
There will also be no change in local connection -3
(connection from
central station spanning more than 30 kilometers) in
the area
Jakarta-Tangerang-Bekasi (Jatabek). Here tarifs will
be equivalent to
long distance (SLJJ) zone I tarifs.
The Director General of Post and Telecommunications,
Sasmito
Dirjo, stressed this information in a press meeting
in Jakarta,
Monday, (22/2). He issued this terse statement in
connection with
numerous reactions from the public who are driving
at a deferment in
view of the economic condition which does not foster
this government
measure.
Meanwhile, a representative of the House in
Commission VIII,
regretted the fact that a colleague of Commission IV
- who happened
to join the Telkom force - did not seem to
understand the aspirations
of the people.
"Commission IV could agree with the increased
telephone tarifs, but
it should also have considered the feasibility of
the tarif increase,"
said the House member who preferred not to be
identified.
"I'm afraid that it would hurt the respective
member," he said.
Impossible
Sasmito said meanwhile, that the 24 percent increase
of telephone
rates can no longer be delayed, as it had repeatedly
been cancelled.
The decision is part of a long term strategy in
order that PT Telkom
could provide telecommunication service to the public.
"If it is deferred again, it would be the same as
prolonging a problem.
According to the government, February 1999 should be
the right
moment to implement the decision. We have been very
careful and
considered public aspirations. Discussions were held
with most
parties including Parliament. If it is going to be
deferred until after the
Election and after the General Assembly, its purpose
might be of no
effect," said the Director General.
As to the local-3 connection (above 30 km) for the
Jatabek region
which is equivalent to SLJJ Zone I tarifs, Sasmito
explained that
government wanted to introduce an even tarif
distribution in all
regions.
"We cannot give the Jatabek region a special
treatment which has
been enjoying local tarifs at local-3 connections,"
he said.
According to the Director General, government wanted
to implement
this rule in 1995, connections from central
exceeding more than 30
kilometers up to 200 kilometers, were to be effected
with zone I long
distance tarifs. This rule is in effect in all
regions of Indonesia, except
for a part in the Jatabek area which was not ready
yet. For this
reason, the decision will take effect simultaneously
on February 1
1999 in Indonesia and part of Jatabek will be
affected by the decision.
The government did request PT Telkom to consider
public interest
before tarif local-3 became effective. "Calls below
a distance of 30
kilometers should not be effected by SLJJ tarifs.
This applies only to
distances over 30 kilometers.
The following is a sample, connection Tangerang
(021) - Bekasi (021)
spanning a distance of 50 km, will be effected SLJJ
zone I tarif. While
a call from Semarang (024) - Demak (0291) spanning
only 26
kilometers, will be effected a local tarif. Calls
from Cibinong (021) -
Bogor (0251) 16 kilometers only will be effected
local tarifs.
"We want to treat our customers fairly with the
installation of local-3
connections in the Jatabek area," added the Director
General.
As to billings and accounts, Sasmito said that
Telkom will start
preparations in one or two days. It is expected that
Telkom will
promptly have a study ready.
Telephone customers expected to make use of local-3
tarifs will be
below 25 percent, according to Sasmito. (*)
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