Trikomsel set to ride Asean telecoms wave

Indonesia's economic expansion is giving rise to Southeast Asia's hottest market for 3G mobile devices and other portable computers. With the country's internet penetration estimated to be lower than the average for Southeast Asia, a mobile telephony roll-out is the best way to reach its rural areas by 2015.

"Indonesia is the next internet country. That's why we are preparing ourselves by having up to 2,000 company-owned stores all over Indonesia within the next three years," says Sugiono Wiyono Sugialam, president, director and CEO of Trikomsel Oke, Indonesia's largest mobile phone retailer and distributor.

With a network of more than 16,000 independent retailers across 175 cities in Indonesia, Trikomsel's reach is unmatched in the country's consumer electronics scene. The company specialises in mobile computing devices ranging from feature phones to smartphones and portable personal computers. As a local market leader, it has long-standing relationships with global brands such as Nokia, Sony Mobile, Apple, BlackBerry, Samsung, HTC and Lenovo.

Trikomsel has 1,200 company-owned retail stores, branded as OkeShop and Global Teleshop. Aside from mobile phones and portable computers, these stores sell pre-paid loads, ring tones, games and other mobile and internet content. Known for its value-added services, Trikomsel educates customers in-store on how to maximise their investments in high-end gadgets.

"We still want to grow because the potential is huge," Sugiono says. "There are 400 cities requiring retail presence, and we are just entering one-third of it so far. With the Indonesian economy's continuous growth, I will be very busy opening new stores in the next three to four years."

Sugiono's entrepreneurial spirit has driven Trikomsel's growth since its inception in 1996. As a trusted business partner co-founding the company, Sugiono ran the business professionally.