|
 |
|
Extension
likely on phone registration deadline
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
 A
one-month reprieve is being offered to 15 million prepaid
cellular phone users who have yet to register with only
two days left before the government's deadline.
Information and Communication Minister Sofyan A. Djalil
said Tuesday about 60 percent to 65 percent of 44 million
prepaid phone users had registered their numbers along with
required personal information, which was regulated by a
ministerial decree issued last October.
The government had warned phone users who failed to register
by the deadline would lose service.
"Before unregistered telephone numbers are banned,
their outbound calls will be blocked for about a month.
But they will still be able to send SMSs and receive incoming
calls," Sofyan said after opening a workshop for broadband
wireless access.
"This way they will still be able to register after
April 28," he added.
Cellular phone users should type "daftar", meaning
register, and send to 4444.
The ministry, the Directorate General of Post and Telecommunications
and telecommunication operators will hold a meeting Wednesday
to decide the best way to revoke unregistered numbers. The
government is requiring registration to counter the use
of cellular phones in crimes ranging from fraud to terror
activities.
IT expert Roy Suryo considered a 65 percent registration
rate was high. "It's the habit of Indonesians to act
at the last minute," he said.
He estimated only about 80 percent of the prepaid phone
numbers were in use, and the users would eventually register.
Meanwhile, a committee member of the Indonesian Telecommunication
Regulation Body, Heru Sutadi, said that about 50 telecommunications
related-companies were interested in entering the business
of WiMax services.
WiMax is an acronym that stands for Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access. It is similar to WiFi in concept,
but has a number of enhancements designed to improve performance
and permit usage over much greater distances.
Heru said the government was preparing necessary regulations
to ensure fairness for all participants in the business.(08)
printer friendly
|
