JAKARTA -- In its latest effort to boost subscriber numbers, Indonesia's largest mobile phone operator, Telekomunikasi Indonesia, is looking to Silicon Valley in the U.S. for the funds and know-how to support the local startup scene.

Telekomunikasi Indonesia, or Telkom, as the state-owned company is known, said it plans to partner with several Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms to spend $200 million on nurturing startups in Indonesia. Operations will include early-stage funding, bringing mentors from successful U.S. startups to Indonesia and sending promising startups to Silicon Valley. Telkom added that it may also invest in Silicon Valley startups to bring the latest technology and know-how to the country.

Telkom said it has already partnered with California-based Fenox Venture Capital, which has invested in car-for-hire app Sidecar and Asian startups such as Singapore's rental apartment portal 99.co. Telkom recently set up subsidiary Metra Digital Investama and will use the new business to carry out its investment strategies.

Telkom is the latest company to tap overseas investors to expand its share of the country's booming mobile market. In May, rival operator Indosat formed a $50 million startup fund with Japan's SoftBank.

Despite the rapid increase in smartphone penetration, mobile-related services in Indonesia, such as e-commerce, are still underdeveloped and most of its popular apps are from outside the country. Analysts have highlighted the need for financing and expertise to nurture the local technology industry.

Telkom's mobile subscriber base stood at 137 million as of June. The company plans to boost that number by using its new business to spread its network services to startups. Telkom is also eyeing investment profits through divesting its stake after startups have grown in value. (Nikkei)