Seven telecommunications companies in Indonesia have submitted applications to participate in the government’s forthcoming tender for 3G mobile phone licences. The companies that filed applications before the deadline were Telkomsel, Exelcomindo, Indosat, Telkom, Komselindo, Bakrie Telecom and Sampoerna Telekomunikasi Indonesia (formerly Mandara). The seven companies will each bid for three blocks of FDD 2x5MHz spectrum in the 2100 MHz band reserved for 3G mobile services. To register, each company has paid IDR100 million ($10,526) and placed bonds worth IDR5 billion. The successful bidders who meet the pre-qualification criteria for the auction process will then be able to bid for the frequencies on offer.
