Datacraft Asia Closes US$6 million Indonesian Deal

Singapore Mainboard-listed Datacraft Asia, along with Datacraft Indonesia, NEC Nusantara Communications and Stimec Alita Nasio, have been awarded a US$6 million contract by PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia to build a voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) network linking 19 cities across the archipelago.

The network will enable PT. Telkom to introduce a host of VoIP applications, such as domestic and international pre-paid/post-paid calling, wholesale, voice VPN, PC-to-phone and unified messaging. This first phase of network build out, due to be completed by 2004, is part of the telco’s five-year plan to transform itself into a regional infocomm company.

Datacraft Asia said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange that it was Datacraft Indonesia’s successful implementation of a pilot VoIP network in one of PT. Telkom’s regions that was key in securing the new nationwide contract.

The VoIP network is based on equipment from Cisco Systems, and will be integrated with an IP billing and customer care system using Portal Software’s Infranet products, the statement added.

Said Handy Wirawan, director of Datacraft Indonesia, “This is Datacraft’s first major voice service contract in Indonesia, and gives us a firm foothold in the fast-developing VoIP area. It also provides an opportunity for us to penetrate other areas of PT. Telkom’s business, such as ISP services, mobile telephony, operational support systems, and the construction of Indonesia’s high-speed nationwide IP backbone.”

He expects Datacraft, together with the consortium, to win the tender for subsequent phases of the PT. Telkom project based on its expertise in IP network technology, strong local and global support capabilities, and range of professional services.