New mobile service set for ops

A THIRD mobile service operated by Digitec Communications Ltd will enter the market before end of the year, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Timothy Masiu says.
Masiu said this following a visit to Digitec’s head office in Waigani, Port Moresby recently.
Presentations by Digitec’s chief executive officer Pradeep Lal and chief technical officer Justine Prakash highlighted that the construction of over 1,100 towers was set to be completed and, once in full operation, would see up to 1,000 new jobs on the market ranging from sales and marketing, to engineering and ICT-specific jobs.
Masiu said the site visit had given the ICT ministry renewed confidence that the operator licence issued to the company would be fully capitalised by end of this year when Digitec launches the Vodafone PNG brand.
The minister also expressed satisfaction on the impact a third operator would have on the people.
“I am delighted to inform the public that the introduction of a third mobile network operator will bring in much needed competition to the market to drive retail prices down for the benefit of our people,” he said.
“We’ve also done our independent assessments and we believe mobile coverage could easily jump from 42 per cent to 85 per cent within one year after the launch of the third operator.
“This means that more of our people will have access to communication services at a cheaper rate.
“In addition, this should finally trigger regulated tower sharing pricing and mobile number portability in early 2022 and so it is truly exciting times ahead for all of us.”