Fiji telcos sign FJ$1m fee

SUVA: Telecom operators in Fiji will have to pay FJ$1 million (US$642,000) a year or 1.5% of their gross turnover from the previous financial year as licence fee, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) said, reports The Fiji Times.
ATH chief executive Tomasi Vakatora made the announcement at an ATH special brokers briefing in Suva last Tuesday.
The interim government and telecom companies signed a deed of settlement last week.
ATH, Vodafone, Telecom Fiji Ltd and Fintel would be given a new licence as part of the deregulation.
Vakatora said the offer by the interim government was more economical than a cash settlement.
“If we were adamant about cash compensation the discussion would have collapsed,” Vakatora said.
He said the group was satisfied with the mediation process and outcome.
A staggered approach was taken as the exclusivity would continue for 18 months before Fiji’s telecom market (domestic and international) opens up. The mobile market would open in October.
Vakatora said new entrants in the mobile market would not be able to use Vodafone’s network.
He said Vodafone would be embarking on new projects such as base stations as a preparation towards the comparative market. – PNS