New cable connects providers

By CLARISSA MOI
MANY internet service providers have been connected to the Kumul submarine cable since last month, says PNG DataCo managing director Paul Komboi.
He said they were reselling internet data delivered through the Kumul submarine cable.
“This means the internet service providers can now have more capacity, faster internet speeds, lower latency (delay), better reliability and better data pricing,” he said.
Komboi said DataCo only set the wholesale price for the services they offered.
“It is up to the retail service providers to package their retail offering including the setting of retail prices for their products,” he said.
“As a wholesaler, we do have pricing for our products.
“For the internet product, since taking over the wholesale business from Telikom PNG in August 2018, DataCo has reduced wholesale internet pricing by (between) 40 per cent and 50 per cent depending on the volume subscribed.”
General manager commercial Une O’Ome said PNG DataCo could not influence the retail prices or the margins the service providers charge.
Digicel, bmobile, Telikom, Datec, Digitec, Global Technologies and Click had already been connected to the Kumul submarine cable.
O’Ome said service providers were already running promotions.
“There are (also) new ISPs who have also registered and are offering competitive prices.”