JAKARTA Deep-pocketed conglomerate Sinar Mas, the parent company of Asia Pulp & Paper, has begun a search for advertising and media agencies to handle its forthcoming telco offering, with a communications budget estimated at between US$20 to $30 million.
According to sources, Sinar Mas has met with Publicis, Grey, DraftFCB and local shop, Cabe Rawit to discuss separate advertising proposals that would accommodate budgets of $10 million and $20 million.
Meanwhile, GroupM, Starcom and ZenithOptimedia are reportedly gunning for the media brief, which sources claimed to be worth no less than $10 million.
A spokesperson at PT Wireless Telecom, owned by Sinar Mas, said the decision would not be made for "at least another four weeks".
The telco, nicknamed "Win" by its clients, is being driven by former employees from Smart Telecom, one of the Philippines's leading telcos.
Sinar Mas' arrival onto the scene follows the arrival of Hutchison Telecommunications and Malaysia's Maxis Communications in 2005.
