Indonesia’s third-largest mobile phone operator, Excelcomindo reported net profits surged 14-fold to US$68 million for the first 6 months of 2008, based on revenue of 5.8 billion rupiah (US$638 million), up 59% from the same period a year ago.

PT Excelcom’s wireless subscriber base jumped 124% to 22.9 million users from 10.2 million a year ago and saw higher call utilization up to 19.3 billion minutes from 1.7 million. The company is 83.79% controlled by Telecom Malaysia and Emirates Telecommunications owns a 16% stake.

Rising competition amongst Indonesia’s 10 cellular operators has intensified an ongoing price war, benefiting the estimated more than 90 million mobile users and ignited a boom in mobile subscriptions for the 235 mil population.

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia reported 1H 2008 revenue rose 5.9% to Rp30.18 trillion, fueled by growth at its mobile division Telkomsel, despite a drop in overall net profit. Wireless subscribers totaled 52.4 million as of end June.

Telkom is Southeast Asia’s second-largest phone company by value and 35% owned by Singapore Telecommunications.

Earlier, second largest mobile operator PT Indosat had reported adding 7.9 million new mobile sign-ups for first half of 2008. The company’s total subscriber base rose 32% to 32.4 million subscribers by end June, up from 24.5 million at the end of 2007.