JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indosat Multimedia Mobile (IM3) said it will continue its free General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) offering until the end of April, with an additional extension possible. IM3 originally set its free GPRS services schedule for November 2001 through February.
Sumedi Kirono, IM3’s director of business, explained the extension is a way to lure more customers and retain existing GPRS users. Kirono said the deferment of a GPRS price plan is also due to lack of content providers. Moreover, IM3 will wait to see other operators’ GPRS price plans to prevent its existing GPRS users from churning to other less-expensive services.
Satelindo and market leader Telkomsel plan to launch GPRS services during the second half this year.
The launch of GPRS services is intended to increase IM3’s average revenue per user (ARPU). Currently, IM3 counts 190,000 subscribers, with ARPU for its prepaid subscribers at US$10 and US$20 for postpaid subscribers.
In addition, Rudiantara, head of Indonesia’s cellular association, predicted data services will contribute US$165 billion in 2002 to the Indonesian cellular market, excluding the new 1800 MHz operators like IM3. Some US$15 million will be from GPRS, while text messaging will comprise the rest.
