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T Telkomsel, the country's largest cellular phone operator, has filed a police report against the Badung administration, accusing its public order officers of vandalizing the company's property.

In a written statement Wednesday, Telkomsel's legal counsel, Hartanto, said the damage caused by the administration's officials had resulted in the disruption of the company's services in several locations across the regency.

"We have lodged an official police complaint in relation to property damage and service disruption suffered by our client," he said.

Last week, a similar report was filed by PT Solusindo Kreasi Pratama (SKP), a company that leased communication towers to cellular service providers.

Telkomsel is one of SKP's biggest clients.

Since early August, the administration's public order officers have torn down several communication towers in an effort to enforce a 2008 bylaw on joint telecommunication towers.

The bylaw stipulates cell phone operators must use a series of joint telecommunication towers built and operated by a company assigned by the administration.

Both SKP and cell phone operators vehemently opposed the bylaw, saying it creates unhealthy business competition and gives preferential treatment to the assigned company.

The administration brushed off protests and began dismantling the towers operated by SKP, particularly those whose construction licenses (IMB) had just expired.

"When the administration's officers dismantled a tower on Aug. 10, they did so in a careless manner and without any regard for the safety or integrity of my client's property," Hartanto said.

"That regrettable action has inflicted damage to my client's property and telecommunication infrastructure, as well as disrupted the availability of the cellular service for Telkomsel's customers."

He added the main casualty in the battle between the administration and cell phone operators would naturally be the customers.

Hari Purwanto, Telkomsel communication manager for Bali and Nusa Tenggara, said the administration's actions had triggered a series of disruptions to the company's network, leaving customers with unstable or nonexistent communication signals on their cellular devices.

"The disruptions have further aggravated the interruption experienced by our customers after our undersea fiber optic cables suffered significant damage when they were struck by an anchor," Hari said.

Similar complaints were also voiced by Rachmat Sri Widodo, Bali and Nusa Tenggara operational manager for the country's second-biggest cell phone operator, PT Exelcomindo.

"We regret the course of action taken by the Badung administration," he said.