ICCC must not let Digicel monopolise market

 IS it true that a sister company of Digicel, Sierra Support Services, has been given a contract worth US$15 million to operate a fibre  optic cable network in PNG? 

If so, then the poor Telikom is doomed. 

The bad part is that Digicel will become too powerful and there is likely to be  a  monopolistic situation as is currently being experienced with Inter-Oil in the fuel industry. 

Why can’t he Independent Consumer  and Competition Commission (ICCC) not involve another company that is not related  to  Digicel to partner with Telikom to provide this service? 

Telikom has provided  much dedicated  services to this country over the years.

It is a national icon and it must be protected by the government of this country. 

Unfortunately, it has been politicians’ involvement in most government institutions that has been the stumbling block in running those organisations successfully. 

Endemic corruption involving politicians and bureaucratic  red-tape is to be blamed for many government institutions not functioning well. 

The ICCC should reconsider this situation and prevent any monopolistic operations that will affect millions of Papua New Guineans. 

Imagine  the cost of communication services being controlled by one company in the next 10 to 15 years. 

It may not be what the ICCC thought when giving out such a contract knowing well that PNG very much depends on this important service, whatever the costs.  

Seko Sisiwan

Waigani