Telecommunication Operators: No to Government Clearance System
Friday, 25 April, 2008 | 19:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: All telecommunication operators have refused to obey the Telecommunication Traffic Clearance System that the government proposed which was organized by PT Pratama Jaring Nusantara.

“All operators have said no to it,” Director General of Post and Telecommunications Basuki Yusuf Iskandar told Tempo yesterday (4/25).

However, he was reluctant to explain the next measure of the government: will the clearance system continue if all operators refuse to join?

The Head of the Public Relations Division at PT Indosat Tbk Adita Irawati stated as well that the company was not on the same page as the clearance system. It means that Indosat still refers to the Indonesia Clearance Automatic System (SOKI) that the operators apply through the Telecommunication Interconnection Clearance Association (Askitel).

The problem emerged since Pratama won the tender of clearance management in February 2004. The government wanted all operators to leave SOKI and shift to the new clearance system. Operators remained on their spots because the previous clearance system was fine. The negotiation kept on until operators were given the option that they might acquire Pratama. They refused to acquire it because they viewed that the feasibility test did not profit the operators.

The government still gives Pratama the chance to negotiate. On the other side, Pratama asks the government to be firm because it has not operated for four months.

Basuki convinced that the Telecommunication Traffic Clearance System will still operate. He said it had been emphasized in the plenary meeting of Indonesia Telecommunication Regulation Agency (BRTI) on Wednesday (4/23). “Principally, we will still apply it.” The government will soon discuss the mechanism with operators and Pratama.

Ig. Widi Nugroho | Agoeng Wijaya | Dian Yuliastuti