Telkom to Fight for Superiority In Signal In Border Area

Nunukan, N Kalimantan (Antara Bali) - PT Telkom Indonesia said it will fight for superiority in signal against Malaysian telecommunications provider in the frontier district of Nunukan in North Kalimantan.

"We will see that we would be stronger than the Malaysian providers in signal in the Nunukan district before August 17," Hendri Saparini, the chief commissioner of the state telecommunications company said.

PT Telkom picked the date to strengthen its signal before the countrys independence day commemoration on August 17.

Saparini said the central government is aware of the domination of Malaysian telecommunication providers in the frontier area.

She said the government is serious about efforts to prevent telecommunications in the frontier area from being disturbed by Malaysian providers.

Saparini said strong telecommunication signal of Malaysian providers in Nunukan contributes to Malaysian domination of economy in that area.

Telecommunications play an important role in business competition, she said when inaugurating operation of wifi.id corner in three locations in that areas on Monday.

PT Telkom , therefore would improve its telecommunications service with stronger signal to help economic development in that area, she added.

"Telecommunications are vital instrument in business war between countries . Therefore, for the sake of economic development in the border area , telecommunications signal must be strong to block disturbance from neighboring countries," she said.

Meanwhile, Telkoms marketing director Masud Hamid said Telkom has commitment to contributing to protecting the countrys sovereignty through its telecommunication services.

Masud said Telkoms contribution is in the form of improving telecommunications service especially in frontier areas by expanding networks.

Telkom would build new units of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a number of locations in Nunukan, he said.

With a population of less than 200,000 , the district of Nunukan needs only 20 units of BTS, but currently it already has 45 units, he said.

He said PT Telkom built the BTS units is not based on commercial calculation but more for the ultimate goal of national sovereignty.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited the frontier area not long after he took over the presidency late last year and pledged to modernize infrastructure in that area.(WDY)