Indonesia Telkom aims for 10-15 pct growth

* Aims for 10-15 pct growth in 2010, higher than consensus

* Sees ARPU has reached bottom, can only go up

* Consolidation imminent, may happen as early as Q1 2010

* New growth drivers from broadband Internet, media business

(Adds details, quotes)

By Harry Suhartono

SINGAPORE, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Telekomunikasi Indonesia

(Telkom) (TLKM.JK), the country's biggest telecom company, is aiming for a 10 to 15 percent growth in revenue and net profit in 2010, more than the targeted 5-10 percent growth this year.

Tanri Abeng, Telkom's chairman, told Reuters in an interview that consolidation in the country's mobile phone operators is imminent and could happen as early as the first quarter of 2010.

His targets were higher than forecasts from analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S which show Telkom expected to grow revenue by 8.5 percent and profit by 10.4 percent next year.

Abeng sees growth opportunities from new areas such as the media and content business, including broadband Internet, which he expects to have more than 1 million users by the end of this year from 979,000 users as of September.

"Growth (in 2010) would be better than this year as there are more drivers for growth. I want to see us growing at double-digit levels again. The bottom line should follow," Abeng said.

"I think if we can grow 10-15 percent, that will be good, I don't think it will go beyond that," he added.

Telkom, the biggest company by market value on the Indonesia bourse, posted a 24 percent rise in its third-quarter net profit, boosted by revenue growth from its mobile and data services. [nJAK440297]

The company controls 65 percent of PT Telekomunikasi Selular, the country's largest mobile phone operator, which contributes to around half of its revenue.

Tough competition among mobile phone operators throughout 2009 has been pushing down average revenue per user but Abeng said it had reached its bottom and could only go up. Indonesiahas nearly a dozen mobile phone operators, more than other major neighbouring country.

"There are too many operators in Indonesia and there will be consolidation. It will lead to more rational pricing and healthier competition," said Abeng, who was Indonesia's state enterprises minister.

"I'm sure at least in the first quarter 2010 consolidation will take place. It can happen through mergers or some sort of cooperation."

He said Telkom sees opportunity from the consolidation process and "will respond to it positively" without elaborating if the company would buy its rivals.

Telkom is competing with Indosat (ISAT.JK), the country's second biggest telecommunication company, and the third largest mobile operator, PT Excelcomindo Pratama (EXCL.JK).

(Reporting by Harry Suhartono; editing by Nopporn Wong-Anan and Valerie Lee)

((harry.suhartono@thomsonreuters.com; +65 6403 5658; Reuters Messaging: harry.suhartono.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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