Mobile-8 announces near double revenue, expansion

Aditya Suharmoko ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 02/23/2008 4:44 PM  |  Business

CDMA-based cellular network operator PT Mobile-8 Telecom announced Friday its customer base had increased by 65 percent in 2007, almost doubling its revenue.

By the end of last year, the company's subscribers numbered slightly more than 3 million, up from about 1.8 million a year earlier, said Merza Fachys, the company's director and chief of corporate affairs.

"The company's gross revenue in 2007 was promising, with a year-on-year increase of 50 percent.

"It was mainly contributed by the introduction of our new tariff and the launch of our commercial operation in new areas," said Fachys.

The company took in Rp 281.2 billion (about US$30.66 million) in gross revenue between January and September last year, an 81 percent increase from the same period in 2006, Fachys said.

Fachys said Mobile-8 would continue to expand its BTS (base station transceiver) network outside Java this year, spending $140 million for the work, or more than double last year's $60 million.

Mobile-8 has at least 500 BTSs nationwide, most of them in Java.

"We have prepared sufficient funds for our capital expenditure. In 2007, we successfully raised new funds through rupiah and U.S. dollar bond issuances, amounting to Rp 675 billion and $100 million," said Fachys.

Mobile-8, established in 2002 and widely known for its Fren service, provides data and multimedia facilities in Java, Madura, Bali, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi and South Kalimantan.

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