Minister Threatens to Revoke Permit of First Media, Bolt
13 November 2018 20:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara warned First Media and Internux a.k.a Bolt to immediately pay off the User Rights Fee or BHP radio frequency. The total fee that must be paid by First Media and Bolt is Rp354,84 billion and Rp343,58 billion, respectively.
“If there is no settlement until November 17, the license to use the frequency can be revoked,” said Rudiantara at XL Axiata Tower, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 13. As a result, the 2.3 GHz Broadband Wireless Access customers from the two companies will lose its service.
However, Rudiantara did not give a clear answer when asked about the certainty of the permit revocation if there is no settlement until November 17. “We’ll see. If it’s paid, it will be different,” he said.
Until now, said Rudiantara, there have been no attempts from the two companies to pay the arrears since 2016, while in fact, the Ministry has sent a warning letter three times.
Instead, First Media sued the Directorate General of Resources and Equipment of Post and Information Technology (SDPPI) of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics to the State Administrative Court (PTUN) on November 2, 2018.
The lawsuit contained a request for a delay in the implementation of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Usage Fee Payment Notice dated on September 17.
The Ministry stated that based on Article 83 (1) of the Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 9 of 2018 concerning Operational Provisions for the Use of Radio Frequency Spectrum, every Radio Frequency Band Permit (IPFR) holder who does not make full payment of Radio Frequency BHP at the due date is subject to administrative sanctions in the form of fines, temporary suspension of using the Radio Frequency Bands, and/or revocation of license.
The permit revocation was carried out after the IPFR holder was given three warning letters and did not repay all Radio Frequency BHPs for annual IPFR and the fine of up to the 24th month from the due date of the Radio Frequency BHP, which is not later than November 17.
CAESAR AKBAR