Digicel to push expansion

DIGICEL would now be able to expand its network and cell phone services in the country, chief executive John Mangos said yesterday.
He said this will become possible with Digicel migrating its spectrum licence to the National Information and Communication Technology Authority (Nicta) from the previous licencing regular, the PNG Radio Communications and Telecommunications Technical Authority (PNGTel).
 “This signified another milestone for Digicel and it will enable us to continue investing in PNG and keep rolling more services throughout PNG”, Mangos said.
He said they were now looking at expanding their 3G network to other centres such as Kimbe, Wewak, Madang and Goroka.
Nicta chief executive Charles Punaha congratulated Digicel for being the first mobile operator to have gone through all the required processes to have its spectrum licence migrated to Nicta.
He said the other two mobile companies.
Telikom and bemobile were yet to do that with negotiations ongoing.
Punaha said the spectrum licence gave Digicel the right to roll out its services and network on a nationwide basis.
Punaha also made a strong public appeal against vandalism of telecommunication and ICT facilities around the country.
He made the appeal in light of recent vandalism experienced in Buka, Alotau and in Manus.
He said NICTA, as the sole licencing and regulatory authority of the ICT industry in PNG, would take necessary actions to deal with those involved in vandalism.
Punaha said people do not realise that vandalism by one person could affect everyone else and this had to stop.
He said this also affected the companies concerned as it cost them a substantial amount of money to set up the facilities.
Mangos put the cost of repairing vandalised cables and other ICT facilities to about K300,000 which was quite expensive for their operations.