Digicel aims to invest, expand services in rural areas

DIGICEL has invested well over US$1 billion (K3.3 billion) in the country and would increase its investment in the coming years not only in the cities but with a major focus on expanding into rural areas.
The telecommunications company said in a statement that this would expand to areas where previously never had access to telecommunications services.
It stated that while other providers were challenged to provide basic communication services in the cities like Port Moresby and Lae, Digicel was embracing a further rollout of additional 3G and 4G coverage into rural PNG.
At the recent Men of Honour Awards conducted by Digicel through its foundation, chief executive officer of Digicel PNG Colin Stone said: “It is my pleasure to not only announce the spectacular work of our nominees and winners here tonight but to also highlight Digicel’s unwavering commitment to growing this amazing nation.
“This year, Digicel will continue to invest not only in the cities where others have seen fit to stop, but to invest into our rural communities, upgrading and expanding our coverage past the current 80 per cent of the population,” he said.
“This upgrade is an extension of the US$1billion (K3.3b) already invested in Papua New Guinea to date.”
Stone said this further investment this year would mean over 173 Digicel towers would be upgraded to new technology, providing wider 3G and 4G digital services than had ever been seen before in the country.
“We will not stop with our investment and commitment to PNG.
“These upgrades are not just about improvements to existing communications but rather new coverage to 65 new places, new villages and communities in the country, not currently served today,” Stone said.
“The upgrades and expansions by Digicel will not only help share the good work of the Men of Honour Award recipients but also increase the reach of Government services such as education, health, safety, financial services, and access to information on a scale not seen before in rural PNG.
“Fundamental to our business and our chairman Denis O’Brien, is the principle that as our business grows, so to must the communities we serve and so too must the country.
“Digicel will continue to connect more of the unconnected in PNG,” Stone said.
Digicel has invested extensively in the country for over 10 years, creating jobs and new industries.
Their commitment to advancing services has allowed the small-medium enterprises (SME) and corporate segment to expand services to over eight million locals.
Digicel noted that investment was critical in the technology space for the advancements of communications and data provisions which are moving at a rapid pace, and people globally are now embracing the next phase of IoT and even 5G networks.