Awal rollout next month

 DUBAI-based Awal Telecommunications Company will roll-out its operation in the country next month, Communication and Information Technology Minister Jimmy Miringtoro says.

He said there had been lots of speculation in the social media and even the PNG media has commented very heavily on the delay of Awal. The firm was supposed to arrive last month.

But Miringtoro said the delay was due to the Holy Month, Ramadan, which was why the company executives were in Mecca (Saudi Arabia).

“Their application to participate in communication industry had created lots of enthusiasm for PNG,” he said.

“Because it has been just Digicel rolling out communication in the country people have been complaining about the prices. 

“That’s why Awal had brought a lot of enthusiasm and when expectations are not met, people start to lose hope and start to create speculations.

“I have asked them to make their way to PNG quickly so they can take part in the competitive market in PNG with Vodafone partnering with bmobile,” Miringtoro said.

He said the National Information Communication and Technology Authority (NICTA) had issued the licenses on trust and merit that Awal is a company with other entities operating in other parts of the world under that arrangement.

“Coming to PNG is also a challenge. They came at their own accord and showed that they can participate in developing this country.

“This government allows investors to come in and the people in Dubai have shown particular interest in communication. They paid their fees to NICTA who issued them three licenses which I presented in Dubai.

“This government has already created a clear level playing field and this government has already created a competition regime and by way of legislation has done away with monopolistic arrangement. We are going ahead to uphold the competition regime.

“Communication must be rolled out throughout the country even to the most remote areas to reach those areas which the main service providers are considering uneconomic area.

“That is why this government encourages competition, it now depends on whoever wants to come in with money and the right people and take part in competition,” he said.

Miringtoro said the Information Communication Technology policy states communication rolled out into the country must be affordable and accessible. 

“Communication is a technical area, it needs well trained engineers, strong administration, state-of-the-art equipment and in PNG a lot of money is required about K300 million, he said.