JAKARTA, Dec 14 09 | Bernama
-- Indonesian Communication and Information (Kominfo) Ministry threatened to revoke business license of Indonesian telecommunication firms, if should they found embracing Israeli counterparts in developing telecommunication business in the country, Antara news agency reported.
Responding to an indication that an Israeli telecommunication firm is involved in the procurement of WiMax telecommunication equipment in Indonesia, Kominfo minister said that establishing business ties with Israel breaches the article No. 21 in the existing Communication Law.
"Based on the law, establishing business relation with Israeli firm is obviously banned as it would threat national security. There will be severe punishment up to business license revocation for firms that breaches the law," Kominfo ministry spokesperson Gatot S Dwo Broto said on the sidelines of ICT Expo 2009 opening ceremony here.
An Indonesian telecommunication firm, PT Abhimata Cipta Abadi, proposed to procure nomadic-standard WiMax equipment with frequency of 3.3 GHz, reported Antara.
It embraces Alvarion, a firm that tuned to be based in Tel Aviv, Israel, to procure the equipment, the report said.
Indonesian Kominfo minister Tifatul Sembiring said that verification over the allegation of Israeli firm involvement in national WiMax equipment procurement is underway at the moment.
"We don't have diplomatic ties with Israel, how can we establish a business relation that doesn't have ties with Indonesia," Tifatul said.
Instead of seeking business partners from Israel, the minister urged national telecommunication firms to seek partners from the United States, China or European countries.
