By FRANK ASAELI
Interconnection between Telikom PNG and Digicel PNG has been switched on but is at a testing stage and not intended for public use until further notice.
Digicel and Telikom PNG completed the physical link between the networks in Port Moresby on Wednesday and yesterday, both mobile companies opened up their networks to the test teams to start interconnection testing.
Telikom CEO Peter Loko actually tested a B-Mobile to Digicel call which worked in the presence of State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare and Minister for Communication and Information Patrick Tammur, who officially “switched on” the interconnection between Digicel and Telikom.
But mobile phone users will have to wait for a number of days for testing to be completed by Digicel before a commercial launch.
The testing of both networks is expected to take several days and once testing is successfully completed, Digicel customers will be able to call Telikom and B-Mobile customers and vice versa.
Digicel CEO Kevin O’Sullivan, who did not attend the official launch by Mr Somare and Mr Tammur at the Boroko Telikom Exchange, said interconnection testing was essential to ensure that customers experienced a high quality of service and to ensure the stability of both networks.
Long term network stability would be ensured when interconnect is provided through four points of interconnection in Port Moresby, Lae, Hagen and Kokopo as agreed by Telikom and Digicel.
Meanwhile, Minister Tammur has appealed to both companies and Green Communication to have consumers’ interest at heart.
“Let me ask both of you (Telikom and Digicel) not to be greedy,” Mr Tammur said.
“Your most important issue is that the rate for interconnection is still outstanding,” Mr Tammur said.
He warned that he hoped both companies resolve this issue and would not need a third party involvement, hinting at Government intervention if pricing was not agreed by the two companies in two weeks.
The minister said the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission would intervene to settle reasonable and acceptable rate for interconnection if both did not agree earlier.
Mr Tammur also assured Digicel that it will be allowed to keep and operate its own infrastructure.
Explaining why they were not present at the launch, a Digicel spokesperson said they were not invited to the launch.
CEO O’Sullivan was seen at the Telikom facility at Boroko, but left without attending the launch.