Netflix blocked by Indonesia’s biggest telecom

Netflix hit a snafu during its expansion today, with the biggest telecom in Indonesia, PT Telekomuniksai Indonesia Tbk, blocking access to the service. The blockage is said to be over Netflix’s lack of a content provider permit, as well as objections to some content made available through Netflix. Concerns about adult and violent shows were cited as part of the reason for the banhammer.

Earlier this month, Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings announced that 130 new countries would be getting access to the streaming service, something that would hugely bump the number of regions where Netflix is available (from 60 to 190). The announcement came a short while ahead of the company’s crackdown against VPN users, a business move largely criticized.

One of those 130 news countries is Indonesia, but rolling out there won’t go as smoothly as the company may have hoped. The nation’s Censor Board had made it clear earlier this month that it objects to some content made available on Netflix; furthermore, cable operators in the nation had expressed upset about the business move, likely due to the competition Netflix would pose.

Telkom’s Netflix block is a big one, as the telecom controls both ISPs Wi-Fi.id and IndiHome, covering a large number of Internet users in Indonesia. Telekom also happens to be the company behind a local VOD service called UseeTV.

Telekom’s VP Arif Prabowo said in a statement today, “Netflix’s content should adjust to regulations in Indonesia,” claiming the block is for the good of the people. It isn’t clear how Netflix will proceed, though it has said it will comply with whatever laws in the region it must.