Chat with a rising star in Indonesia’s telco

Posted by Budi Putra on September 27th, 2006 filed in Asia, Asia: Indonesia, CNET Asia, Cellular Phone, Tech, Tech Idea, Telco: 3G 1x EVDO, Telco: CDMA

anindya_btel.jpgHe is really a nice and humble guy. I recently met him in his office in Wisma Bakrie Building, Kuningan, Jakarta. Wearing a white shirt and a tiny, rounded glasses, he looks like a fresh university graduate rather than a high-profile businessman.

He is also a good mate to discuss with. He listens to the questions asked him carefully, thinks first, then answers it clearly.

Anindya Bakrie, who is president director of Bakrie Telecom, a CDMA provider, pointed out that investors looking for opportunities in Indonesia’s fast-growing cellular sector need to change their mindsets when reviewing the country’s listed telcos “because the rules of the game are about to change drastically”, he said.

That is why his company, which has just launched its initial public offering (IPO) in the beginning of this year, is confident of taking on the big boys of the industry such as PT Telkom and Indosat which dominate the market.

Check-out my CNET Asia tech post on Bakrie Telecom


6 Responses to “Chat with a rising star in Indonesia’s telco”

  1. Oskar Syahbana Says:
    September 27th, 2006 at 2:51 am

    The family name is setting up my red-alert alarm everywhere… Bakrie? Isn’t that the name of the family that sold their business for $2 only to evade some loss on Lapindo brantas? Sheez… currently I’m averting their company’s stock at all cost (this includes ENRG, BUMI, and UNSP)

  2. boedipoetra Says:
    September 27th, 2006 at 3:00 am

    Thanks you, Oskar.
    Of course, I knew about it. I am not writing about Anindya’s family business, but his vision on CDMA industry.

  3. Oskar Syahbana Says:
    September 27th, 2006 at 11:12 am

    I do have some problem with BTEL too! So I don’t think it will make any difference :P. I’m not sure if anything has changed but IMHO, the rapid growth of user-base of Esia isn’t synergized with the growth of its network. The results, network overload almost hourly. Did you ask him how he runs the company (I’m very curious about low-cost company, AirAsia for example)?

  4. boedipoetra Says:
    September 28th, 2006 at 1:14 am

    In term of network overload, the only problem for BTEL is because they couldn’t easily expand their network coverage due to interconnection access provided by Telkom. BTEL, as well as Mobile-8’s Fren and Indosat’ StarOne, had asked Telkom to “open” more interconnections (and according to the regulation, Telkom has obligation to do it) but it fact Telkom reluctantly doing it.

  5. Oskar Syahbana Says:
    September 30th, 2006 at 5:29 am

    That is, from the business side, is logical. Why would Telkom open their huge userbase to other company? Again, that’s if we’re talking from the business side. Of course this “interconnection access” argument is cited over and over again.

    However, sooner or later, they are going to tarnished their own reputation by being a “cheap” communication provider (as opposed to “value provider”) and no “interconnection access” arguments are going to save them. Their company’s conglomerate’s reputation doesn’t help either.

  6. rozald sihombing Says:
    January 27th, 2007 at 7:23 am

    i think if telkom has already got their b.o.p in servicing people throughout indonesia,they would more flexible.
    thanks to telkom by giving us a chance to communicate with our brother in papua… or any places in the country…

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