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By CHRISTINE
PAKAKOTA
THE Papua New Guinea Radiocommunications
and Telecommunications Technical Authority (Pangtel) has given notice to
mobile operator Digicel to show cause why its Interim Spectrum Licence
should not be revoked on the basis of alleged breach of the Radio
Spectrum Regulations 1997.
Pangtel acting director-general Charles Punaha in a press conference
yesterday said Pangtel had requested Digicel to do that after frequency
monitoring checks showed that Digicel had been using frequencies
allocated to the third mobile operator GreenCom.
“We became aware on Aug 31 that Digicel may have been operating outside
the allocated frequencies that were given to them.”
Pangtel then conducted checks in areas where Digicel operated and also
engaged the services of an independent technical consultant and a lawyer
and “all reports showed that Digicel had been using frequencies
allocated to GreenCom as per the channeling arrangements”.
“We have conclusive evidence that Digicel had been operating in the
frequency bands that were allocated to GreenCom,” Mr Punaha said, adding
that this was in breach of some provisions and was likely to contravene
other relevant provisions of the Radio Spectrum Act 1996 (as amended)
and the Radio Spectrum Regulations 1997.
In light of Pangtel’s discovery, a letter dated Sept 18 was sent to
Digicel directing them to cease all illegal use of 900 GSM frequency
bands.
A second letter was sent on Sept 20 giving notice of intention to revoke
Digicel’s interim spectrum licence for failing to cease the frequencies
outside of what were given to them.
Mr Punaha clarified that Pangtel’s intent at this stage was to establish
dialogue and some meaningful consultation with Digicel.
“Their lawyer, in our view, has come back to us with a letter that we
regard as intimidation, which was not the intent of what we wanted to
do. We want to engage in some consultation with them, allow them the
opportunity to come back to us.
“The lawyer has come back threatening us with the existing restraining
order and I can clarify that these two issues are totally distinct, they
are not related.
“The issue that is before the court which was reported in the media, was
in respect of the advice given that their licence was going to be
declared null and void in view of the amended ICT policy.
“Here is the case where the operator is allegedly abusing our regulation
by illegally using frequencies that is not assigned to them so these are
two distinct cases.
“We are going to give them an extension of time for them to come back to
us and we have also given instructions to our lawyers to pursue this
matter in court next week.”
 
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