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ellular operator Telkomsel’s total number of mobile connections reached 88 million as of June this year, an increase of about 30 percent from the same month last year, the company’s senior executive says.

President director Sarwoto Atmosutarno said in Jakarta on Monday that with the significant increase in connections in the first half of the year, he was upbeat the company would achieve its target of establishing 100 million connections by the end of 2010.

He said the significant increase in total connections during the first half of the year was partly attributable to the launch of several new products.

Sarwoto said Telkomsel’s Simpati PeDe product, which offers discounts for calls and text messages to and from other PeDe simcards, and Jagoan Duo, which offers free calls and text messages, had been received well by customers.

“Besides the products, the increase has also been supported by the expansion of Telkomsel’s networks,” he said during the launch of a service called Telkomsel Siaga in Jakarta.

Telkomsel Siaga will help customers plan their trips to their hometowns during the Idul Fitri holiday season by
providing various kinds of information services, including Ovi Maps and Google Maps, Traffic Monitoring 9119 for video traffic monitoring and information on locations of nearby ATMs, banks, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and police offices.

“Our applications will be easy to access using broadband,” Sarwoto said, adding that this year’s
program would be different because it would focus on broadband services.

Under the program, Telkomsel, in cooperation with Takaful Safari Insurance and Jiwasraya Staco Insurance will also provide accident insurance worth up to Rp 100 million (US$11.200) for its customers who buy policies through its T-Cash service.

To support the program, Telkomsel will also cooperate with several government institutions, including the police, transportation agencies, shipping company PT Pelni, travel agencies and 28 authorized sellers of cellular phones and motorcycles.

In cooperation with these parties, Telkomsel will establish 802 posts in Java and Sumatra providing a variety of services, including sales of SIM cards, food and beverages, porter services, healthcare and auto workshop services for Telkomsel’s customers traveling to their hometowns. (map)