High-Cost Economy for Low Incomers

Simak perbandingan biaya telekomunikasi di Indonesia dengan negara2 lain:

- India --> telpon lokal dari HP->PSTN Rp 205/menit, di Indonesia Rp 700-an/menit. Rp 205/menit juga untuk telpon interlokal HP-> PSTN di India, sementera di Indonesia paling murah Rp 3.200/menit.

- Korea Selatan --> GDP 12x penduduk Indonesia, telpon inlok HP->HP hanya Rp 1.260/menit, sementara di Indonesia Rp 4.000/menit.

- Singapura --> orang sana GDP 21x-nya orang Indonesia, tapi cukup bayar Rp 2.000 untuk international call, sementara orang Indonesia bayar Rp 8.000/menit.

- Thailand --> di negri Gajah Putih ini, GDPnya 2x lipat negri Burung Garuda, tapi tarif telpon lokal HP->HP 40% lebih murah.

- Amerika Serikat --> pendapatan mereka 35x orang sini, tapi.. mereka cukup bayar Rp 225/menit untuk telpon pake HP ke seluruh AS, sementara orang Indonesia bisa bayar sampe Rp 4.500/menit.
Diambil dari iklan Esia di Kompas (yang datanya diperoleh dari Sumber Data Pendapatan Negara: GDP per capita year 2004):

Mencengangkan, eh?

Bulan Maret lalu, saat di Bangkok, saya tidak mengalami kesulitan sama sekali untuk komunikasi dengan keluarga di Jakarta. Satu minggu di sana, saya cuma perlu mengeluarkan 300 Baht (kira2 Rp 75.000) untuk telpon ke rumah kurang lebih 10 menit selama 5 hari. Sementara, ketika tagihan Xplor keluar, selama di Bangkok saya menghabiskan Rp 200ribu-an untuk sms saja :(( huaaaaa :((

Bukankah saat orang-orang makin mobile seperti saat ini, telekomunikasi jadi salah satu kebutuhan pokok? Bukankah telekomunikasi juga jadi salah satu penunjang kemajuan suatu bangsa? Jika tarif telepon bisa murah, bukankah internet juga akan jadi sangat terjangkau, dan kemajuan (+efek negatifnya juga) akan semakin tak terbendung?

Inget kan cerita dari masa2 pasca kemerdekaan thn 45 dulu? Saat RI udah dinyatakan merdeka, sementara penduduk2 di pelosok belum tau dan masih sangat takut sama Jepang? Itu karena lambatnya informasi mereka terima.

Jadi, saatnya kita perjuangkan hak kita untuk mendapat kemudahan dalam berkomunikasi! Telkom Indonesia, sadarlah, dan pikirkanlah nasib bangsa kita.

Father's Business

Picture this scenario,

Your Dad comes to you, and ask you to run his business.
"Are you thinking of retire, Dad?"
"Of course not. I am not as old as you think.. I just need my representative in this place."
"O, Dad? So, now you have a branch office in my city?"
"Yes."
Silence. None of you want to break the beauty of the quietness.

"Representative, eh?"
You see your Dad's smirk. He knows you so well that you are a sleeper self-centered, and stubborn headed.
"Don't you think that I am not even suitable for the job, Dad? You know that I, myself, still have a lot of things to do. And I bet you know that I'm still suffering a heavy burden and seems that it won't be over yet."

"No worry. I will take over. You do my business, and I'll do your business."
You look at his eyes. Does he really mean it?
Your Dad gives you a pat on your back. Instantly, you know he really means it. He does.

"Dad?"
His smile assures you. So convincing. Urges you to do something, to not live the way you used to be. You know that now is time to change. It's time to think about others because your Dad owned company, Touching People's Heart, Inc; is a management consultant company to promote one's live, to help someone to have a healthy self-image and find their dignity, so they can complete their purpose of life.

"Ok, Dad. I will do it."