‘Internet price to drop by 50pc’

Business

DATACO PNG Ltd chief executive officer Paul Komboi says retail internet prices will be reduced by about 50 per cent by the end of next year.
He told an investment conference yesterday that wholesale prices had already been reduced by about 40 per cent.
But it was not reduced at the retail end because of market competition.
“I hope in 2022, we will see at least a 50 per cent reduction in the retail price, and I can guarantee you that,” Komboi said.
“I think the market will move very fast and it will be very aggressive.
“Vodafone is coming in at the end of this year and one of the challenges we see is that a drop in the wholesale price is not being passed to the end-user.
“Either the market will force that to happen or we will see the regulator stepping in.
“We know that Telstar is also coming on board if everything goes well after their final assessment and due diligence. They will also create different dynamics in the market place to continue to put presser on reducing the price of services offered to the people.”
Komboi said the reduction had not been felt to end-users because of the competition in the retail market.
“But there is an uptake by usage of mobile phones by other carriers that are out there now,” Komboi said.
“It means that there is competition in the market place.
“Once Vodafone comes in, that will add on to that competition and continue a reduction in pricing.
“That’s when customers will win.”