KPPU Optimistic Proving SMS Cartel Case
Friday, 22 February, 2008 | 17:20 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Business Competition Monitoring Commission (KPPU) panel is optimistic that it can prove the short message (SMS) cartel conducted by several telephone operators. The facts that have been gathered so far are strong enough to prove the violation of the State Decree No. 5/1999 on Telecommunication.

A KPPU’s panel member, Erwin Syahril, said that KPPU has checked the operators which executed an SMS agreement. The body of anti-unhealthy-competition has also questioned several witnesses for statements and opinions in order to support the allegation of a cartel. “Three examinations are left. We’re certain because the evidence is strong,” he told Tempo in Jakarta yesterday (21/2).

He said that the cooperation agreement that KPPU has is already adequate to prove the indication of a cartel despite the fact that the telephone operators have changed the agreement. Now the panel is still searching other evidence, the manner and price that is still effective although the agreement was changed. If there was not any agreement, operators would compete to reduce the SMS tariff, he said.

In the near future, the panel will ask opinion of experts again. KPPU targeted that the deadline of the examination in the end of March and operators that are regarded as not involved will be given the chance of self-defense. “Then the decision will be given after the panel’s session,” said Erwin.

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