USO Fund Management Should be Optimal

Ilustrasi (Dok:TLKM)

JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - The government is expected to optimize the use of Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund from business operators in the telecommunications sector for network construction.

The USO fund levy is 1.25% of the business income. Besides USO, there are more levies on Telecommunications Implementation Cost (BHP) by 0.50%, which considered a Non-Tax State Revenue. The operator per quarter pays these funds to the state.

Currently the fund had finance projects include the Desa Berdering (Telephone line in the rural areas), Desa Pintar (Smart Village), Sub-District Mobile Internet Service Center (M-PLIK), Sub-district Internet Service Center Development (PLIK), National Internet Exchange (NIX) and others.

The Indonesian Telecommunication and Informatics Provider and FUnad Manager Assembly (BP3TI) manage the fund.

Minister off Communication of Informatics and Technology Rudiantara suspend the USO program since last year because it considered not ideal and he is currently redesigning the project.  

Amid the redesigning issue, Rudiantara held a tender on Palapa Ring for the Western and Central Indonesia region Package. As for the Easter Indonesian Section, the package has entered the prequalification stage.

According to the Chairman of the Indonesian Telematics Society (Mastel) Kristiono that USO fund quoted from licensees for the purpose of development in rural areas that are generally not worth the investment for the operator to be a form of service obligations of licensees in question.

"The funds raised should only be fully utilized for the USO construction. The government can be the projects executor or handed to other parties who have met the requirements," Kristiono told IndoTelko, Tuesday (9/2).

The most important thing to consider for the USO development model is it must take place in areas that are not worth the investment.

The nature of the work is network construction so that the responsible parties are competent and already has a relatively wide network so that the work completion is certain and could be secured effective and efficiently.

"The ideal option is that the government is the policy holder stating the USO areas and its implementation is assigned to each operator with investment counted as USO contribution," Kristiono said.

Associated with the government selection in holding a tender for the Palapa Ring should select the best and with cheapest price.

"Currently, investment for areas that are included in the USO category, certainly in terms of investment is not feasible so there is risk factors should be taken into account and addressed. The non-tender pattern is similar to a beauty contest, must be able to explore all aspects of the details better and tested, so it is better in terms of risk mitigation," he advised.

The discourse on shared networks usage from the existing operators who already build in the area is included in the USO category. He also suggested that the government must still enforce the regulations and commitments that have been set in the modern licensing. 

"Modern licensing is very clear that any operator must fulfill its commitment to the deployment of infrastructure and the services must be spread out evenly. Enforce the regulation first, give the sanction, not only fine, “he said.(es)