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AKARTA: Telecommunication rates in Indonesia, both for voice and data services, are deemed too expensive, making the average use of telecommunication services in the country low, according to a survey.

A survey conducted by the Information Society Development and Empowerment Institution (LPPMI) revealed that 75 percent of respondents thought telecommunication rates in Indonesia were too expensive. Up to 81.25 percent of respondents also said that they wanted the rates to be cut.

LPPMI Director Kamilov Sagala said that Indonesian people spent an average Rp 50,000 (US$5.53) to Rp 100,000 per month and only a few spent more than Rp 100,000 for telecommunications services.

“Most people spend about Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000. Most of them wish to spend less than that because they think the rates are still too expensive,” Kamilov said Wednesday during the “Rethinking Data Services: Understanding Consumer Insight” discussion in Jakarta.

The survey also found out that 43.7 percent of respondents were satisfied with telecommunication services while 6.3 percent of respondents were unsatisfied.

LPPMI surveyed 100 telecommunication-services users in the Greater Jakarta, of whom 95 percent used postpaid service while the remaining 5 percent used prepaid services, kompas.com reported.