Telkom to bring Netflix rival to Indonesia



JAKARTA. State-owned telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has announced plans to bring on-demand video streaming service, Hooq, to Indonesia in April.

The plan was initiated after the company blocked Netflix, the US-based video streaming service, from its platforms in January. The company operates a triple-play service of landline phones, high speed internet, and pay TV services under the name of IndiHome.

"Hooq will enter the Indonesian market in April 2016," said Telkom's innovation director Indra Utoyo as quoted by Kontan.co.id on Monday, adding that the plan had yet to be finalized.


"We haven't decided yet. Hooq may or may not be provided by IndiHome," said vice president Telkom marketing and sales Jemy Cofindo.

Hooq is a joint-venture involving Singapore-based Singapore Telecommunication Limited, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. It has more than 10,000 movies in its directories, comprising Hollywood and Bollywood movies, and also Thai horror movies.

It is currently available in countries such as Thailand, Philippines and India, but is far behind Netflix, which operates in 190 countries. In Indonesia, it has been running a Twitter account since August 2015.

On January 14th, through the Twitter account, Hooq mentioned that it would enter Indonesia by the end of February or early March.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie