It’s been some time coming — the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) has finally pulled the trigger on Bolt, signaling the end for the debt-ridden ISP.
Bolt, a 4G internet service provided by PT Internux, along with First Media (both are subsidiaries of the Lippo Group conglomerate) were instructed to pay a combined IDR708 billion (US$48 million) of arrears plus fines on their 2016 and 2017 2.3 GHZ radio frequency usage fees last month. They both missed the deadline, and Kominfo announced today that it has officially revoked their licenses for usage of said frequency.
It’s understood that the move spells the end for Bolt, as it only utilized the 2.3 GHZ radio frequency wherever it was available, including Jakarta.
Ever since Kominfo announced that it would pull Bolt’s license last month, its users reported significant slowing down in internet connection speeds; leading to many choosing not to renew or extend their internet packages. Kominfo says the number of users with at least IDR100K (US$ 6.90) in credit with Bolt has decreased by half from around 10,000 since last month’s announcement, meaning that now is a good time as any to pull the plug.
PT Internux, despite still not having paid their debt to the government, says it will “fulfill the rights” of its customers by promising full refunds for any remaining credit they may have with Bolt, which can no longer be used to purchase internet packages. The company says customers can pick up their refunds at 28 Bolt stores in Jakarta and Medan.
Kominfo says it will supervise the refund process and ensure that Bolt’s customers get back what’s rightfully theirs by February 2019.
The license revocation doesn’t seem to have the same effect on First Media, as the ISP previously said their internet and home cable services are operated under a separate, unaffected sub-division in the company.
