Fiji’s telco monopoly finally ends

SUVA: Fiji consumers can expect cheaper telecommunication costs, now that the interim government has liberalised the market to allow for competition.
A deed of settlement to formalise the removal of telecom monopoly was signed yesterday between government and telecommunication providers – Telecom Fiji Ltd, Vodafone and Fiji International Telecommunications Limited (Fintel), subsidiaries of Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH).
“Competition will benefit the investor, the consumer and the economy, interim prime minister commodore Frank Bainimarama, said.
“It will have an enormous impact on the cost of doing business. Companies will be able to enjoy the same competitive prices that their overseas counterparts have when making international phone calls.”
Bainimarama said a number of overseas operators were keen to invest in Fiji’s ICT sector.
“The government has in this year’s budget provided extremely attractive tax incentives to those wishing to invest this sector. We already have a number of overseas operators wanting to set up call centres in Fiji.”
Chairman of Amalgamated Telecom Holdings, Kantilal Tappoo said with deregulation, the companies would position themselves well to compete internationally.
“We now have a chance to transform the ATH group into a world class enterprise that will see opportunities for expansion in Fiji and possibly overseas and reinforce the country’s potential as the telecommunications hub for the South Pacific.
In two weeks, the government will issue two more cell phone licences.
Pacnews understands that four companies were in the running for the two licences.
They are Carribean-based telecom giant, Digicel, Telecom Pacific, which has a local partner with 51% shares and local ISP provider, Unwired Fiji Ltd. – PNS