PT Telkom Still To Continue To Expand To Myanmar

Jakarta, April 12 (ANTARA) - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. (Telkom) will still continue with its expansion program in Myanmar despite its recent failure to win a tender to be a cellular phone operator in that country, spokesman said. "The Myanmarese government is intensifying efforts to provide access to information technology for its citizens. Telkom is optimistic it could become the Myanmarese government`s reliable partner for the development of information technology infrastructure in Myanmar," the company`s Public Relations Operation Vice President Arif Prabowo said in a press statement received here on Thursday. He said although PT Telkom had failed to be included among shortlisted bidders for cellular phone operations it was optimistic its business opportunity in that country is still wide open especially in the fields of digital media and information communication and technology (ICT) solutions needed by small, medium enterprises and corporations in that country. PT Telkom`s readiness to develop ITC service in Myanmar would be part of its international expansion plans. Until now PT Telkom through its subsidiary, PT Telekomunikasi International (Telin), has successfully expanded to Hong Kong, Timor Leste, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia. "Telkom has planned business expansion to 10 countries and five of them have already been realized," he said. Early in October 2012 Telin launched its AS 2in1 Card product through its Mobile Virtual Network Operation (MVNO) service in Hong Kong. In Timor Leste it has already received a license to operate a cellular phone service with an investment of around US$50 million until 2015 to develop 2G and 3G network infrastructure. Arif said Telin has accelerated development of telecommunication infrastructure in Timor Leste to meet its Service Coverage Obligation to customers reaching 94 percent from three to only one year. The success has been followed by market share control of up to 9.13 percent within only a month of operation and early in April the number of its customers has reached 55,000, he said.