By CHRISTINE PAKAKOTA
THE National Government has endorsed the budget of K20 million for phase 1 of the refined national information and communications technology (NICT) policy.
The amended Government policy was set out in a decision of the National Executive Council which reaffirms the Government’s commitment to “ensuring universal access to telecommunications services in the country on an efficient and sustainable basis with the objective of delivering benefits to PNG consumers and driving improvements in health, education and economic growth”.
This will be achieved by a combination of a staged introduction of competition in all sectors and the transformation of Telikom as the incumbent operator.
The amended policy also outlined refinements to Government policy for the national ICT policy that involved restructuring the telecommunications sector in PNG in two phases: transition period and open competition.
The Government had also directed the Minister for Information and Communication Patrick Tammur and the Minister for Public Enterprise Arthur Somare to revert to the council by no later than six weeks with an implementation plan and schedule for the implementation of Phase 1.
It has also directed that the commencement of phase 1 of the policy be by no later than next Feb 14.
Both ministers are have been instructed to oversee the formulation of all necessary legislation, licences, Telikom’s regulatory structure, agreements and other details necessary for the effective implementation of phase 1.
Messers Tammur and Somare had to undertake a public/private partnership negotiation for phase 1 of Telikom and thereafter, to direct the first legislative council to draft the legislation.