By BIBIAN BARRENG
DIGICEL, the new entrant in the mobile phone sector, plans to set up an “eight-lane each way” data transmission highway at the cost of US$25 million (K73 million) to provide Papua New Guineans with cheap means of hi-tech communication.
Kevin O’Sullivan, Digicel PNG’s first chief executive officer, revealed his plans yesterday at the launch of the telco’s Christmas promotion called “Get rocking with Digicel this Christmas”.
Mr O’Sullivan told media men it was something “he’s very proud of.
“It is like building an-eight lane highway each way all over Papua New Guinea from a data transmission perspective,” Mr O’Sullivan explained.
He said that the new high-capacity SDH (synchronous digitalised hierarchy) transmission ring would provide much-needed data transmission capacity for businesses nationwide.
“Digicel is not selfish … we are going to provide people access to this eight-lane highway so that businesses such as banks and internet service providers (ISP) and normal corporate businesses can have access to this data transmission line,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
He said this in line with group’s strategy to provide affordable telecommunication to every Papua New Guinean.
Mr O’Sullivan noted that Digicel to date had invested K450 million with a further K600 million to be invested within the next 18 months.
He said Digicel in its first year of operations had set up 200 sites with an additional 60 sites to come the end of the year, and a further 100 more sites to be set up next March.
Mendi in Southern Highlands province recently received Digicel coverage while within the next three months, Digicel will be launching in Bougainville, Lihir, Karkar Island in Madang, Alotau and Kimbe in Western New Britain.
The media Christmas event yesterday also kick started Digicel’s Christmas promotion with the theme, “Get rocking with Digicel this Christmas”.
The promotion includes:
lFor every new Digicel phone purchased during this festive period, customer will receive a free mini boombox;
lEvery new customers will enter into the draw to partake in a televised Digicel Trolley Dash for a chance to win K500 worth of free shopping;
lA large range of special handsets that includes the Coral 300, Motorola C119, Samsung C260, Sony W200 and Motorola W375;
lDigicel Santa to visit selected Digicel stores from Dec 1 until Dec 31 to give away treats for the children as well as the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa for free;
lDigicel is organising charity visits during the month of December for less fortunate children with staff to visit charities such as the Cheshire homes; and
lTo kick it all off, there will be a special ceremony organised by Digicel to turn on the Christmas lights in various centres.