Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines Telecommunications

  • Looming Merger in Indonesia’s Telecommunication Sector: Indosat Ooredoo & Hutchison 3 Indonesia

    Qatar-based global communications company Ooredoo QPSC and Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited signed an agreement to merge their Indonesian businesses: Indosat Ooredoo (which is publicly listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange or IDX under ticker code ISAT) and Hutchison 3 Indonesia (known for its brand Tri); a deal that is valued at USD $6 billion.

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  • Palapa Ring Project Indonesia: Construction West Section to Start

    The West section of Indonesia's Palapa Ring project is ready for construction according to the Indonesian Communication and Information Ministry. The majority of funds for the West Palapa Ring section - estimated to require IDR 1.28 trillion (approx. USD $97 million) in total - are ready to be disbursed. The Palapa Ring project, which consists of three sections (the West, Central and East sections), is one of Indonesia's priority infrastructure projects. It involves a huge undersea fiber-optic cable network that will offer faster broadband to the entire archipelago.

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  • 4G Technology Brings Opportunities for Indonesia's Telecoms Tower Companies

    Although advanced markets have already been enjoying 4G technology (short for fourth generation) for a couple of years, Indonesia is still in the middle of developing and expanding its 4G network across the archipelago. This context implies that Indonesia's telecommunication tower providers have ample opportunity for growth, supported by rising smartphone penetration. Within the next five years, the smartphone penetration rate of Indonesia is estimated to grow from 37 percent to 50 percent.

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  • Smartphone Users in Indonesia to Grow Sharply in the Years Ahead

    The number of smartphone users in Indonesia is expected to grow by an average of 33 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2013 and 2017 according to research conducted by Nielsen Informate Mobile Insights. The number of smartphone users in Indonesia is expected to grow from an estimated 52 million to 87 million in 2017. This growth is primarily supported by Indonesians under the age of 30 years. It is estimated that 61 percent of the total number of Indonesian smartphone users are below 30 years. On average, Indonesian users spend 129 minutes per day on their smartphones.

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  • Indosat Resurrecting in Indonesia's Telecommunications Industry

    Indosat, the second-largest telecommunication networks and services provider in Indonesia, is expected to gain momentum after experiencing several weak years. By modernizing its network and reducing foreign-denominated debt, the company, which recently renamed itself Indosat Ooredoo, is in a position to compete again against its main rivals Telekomunikasi Indonesia and XL Axiata. Indosat is for 65 percent controlled by the Qatar-based Ooredoo Group, a telecommunications provider.

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  • What are Indonesia's Best, Most Valuable Brands in 2015?

    The 'Top 100 Indonesia brands' ranking, issued by UK-based brand consulting firm Brand Finance, has a new leader. On top of this year's list is majority state-owned telecommunications firm Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) with a brand value of USD $2.8 billion, replacing Indonesia's largest tobacco company HM Sampoerna (which fell to fourth position in this year's ranking). Other Indonesian top brands are tobacco producer Gudang Garam and Bank Mandiri, Indonesia's largest bank (by assets).

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  • Indonesia Needs to Focus on Internet Development to Boost GDP Growth

    The new cabinet of Joko Widodo is advised to further develop Indonesia’s Internet industry as enhanced Internet connectivity across the vast archipelago will result in higher economic growth. Internet has become such a vital communication channel in governance, business and private lives that a direct link to economic growth is detectable. Recently, an official at Indonesia’s Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) said that with every ten percent growth in number of Internet users, the economy expands by an additional 1.2-1.4 percent.

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  • Fitch Ratings Downgrades Bakrie Telecom's Rating to Restricted Default

    After already having warned in April 2013 that Indonesian telecommunications operator Bakrie Telecom is likely to default on its debt and is in need to restructure its USD $380 million senior unsecured bonds due in May 2015, Fitch Ratings downgraded the company's long term foreign- and local currency issuer default rating to Restricted Default (RD) from C (highly vulnerable) on Friday (30/05). Bakrie Telecom (BTEL) is a subsidiary of the controversial and politically-linked Bakrie & Brothers holding company.

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Latest Columns Telecommunications

  • IPO News Indonesia: LCK Global Kedaton Made Trading Debut

    LCK Global Kedaton, a telecommunication construction services company that was established in 2013, became the first company to make its trading debut on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2018. Mirae Asset Sekuritas acted as underwriter for the initial public offering (IPO). On Tuesday (16/01) the company was added on the local bourse.

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  • Indonesian Mobile Phone Operators to Thrive on Data Consumption

    Three Indonesian telecommunication and network providers are considered to have great room for improving their corporate earnings in the second half of 2017. These companies are Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Indosat Ooredoo, and XL Axiata. Reason why these companies should experience a good performance in H2-2017 is Indonesia's "data consumption trend".

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  • Telekomunikasi Indonesia; Can This Year’s Bull Run Continue?

    PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (NYSE: TLK) is engaged in telecommunications, information technology, and media businesses worldwide. In its latest figures, the company reported earnings of USD $2 billion along with revenues of USD $7 billion in full-year 2015. The results reflect a profit margin of 16.32 percent and an operating margin of 35.17 percent, ensuring an earnings-per-share of USD $2.80.

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  • Indonesian Telecommunication Companies in Focus: Indosat Ooredoo

    The corporate performance of Indosat Ooredoo, one of the largest telecommunication networks and services providers in Indonesia, is expected to improve in the years ahead on the back of Indonesia's growing smartphone usage, rising data traffic and the company's internal improvements. At the start of 2016 Indosat Ooredoo had nearly 70 million cellular subscribers in Indonesia. The company is a subsidiary of international telecommunications company Ooredoo that is headquartered in Doha (Qatar).

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  • Telecommunications in Indonesia: Telkom, Indosat & XL Axiata

    Despite sharp competition, slowing profit margins and a saturating voice and SMS services market, Indonesia’s telecommunications industry still has lucrative prospects as there is still room for growth in data services, value-added services and still relatively low smartphone penetration (as well as low Internet penetration). However, of the big three Indonesian telecommunication network and services providers - Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), XL Axiata and Indosat - only Telkom managed to post net profit over 2014.

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