No interconnection deal

By PETER ESILA
THERE is currently no interconnection between Telikom mobile users and Vodafone, according to the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta) chief executive officer Kila Gulo-Viu.
He said there needed to be an interconnection agreement between the new mobile operator Vodafone and the existing operators – bmobile, Telikom and Digicel.
He said this when asked whether there were talks on an interconnection agreement between the operators.
“We are advised that they should be, they are currently on it now (on interconnection agreement),” he said. “An interconnection agreement allows subscribers from Vodafone and who want to talk to somebody who is a Telikom user, you need that two networks have to be connected.”
An interconnection agreement is a business contract between telecommunications companies for the purpose of interconnecting their networks and agreements traffic.
This means that calls/SMS between the two will not go through.
Department of Information and Communications Technology secretary Steven Matainaho said interconnection was a declared service under the National ICT Act.
“I have been informed verbally that there’s no interconnection in place but interconnection is a declared service under the National ICT Act, interconnection is required,” Matainaho said.
“Interconnection is to be facilitated between networks, so if there is non-compliance to that, you will refer that to the regulator, Nicta, the CEO will handle matters relating to regulations.”
Matainaho confirmed that he had been advised this week of the interconnectivity issue between Vodafone and Telikom.
“It may mean that Vodafone users, subscribers may not be able to call Telikom subscriber phones, and vise versa.
“It is a declared service which means that it is regulated and all operators are required to comply by that to ensure that there is interconnection, and I think that the interconnection fees are also regulated,” Matainaho said.
Vodafone PNG regional chief executive officer Pradeep Lal said during the launch of the operator in Port Moresby last week that Vodafone was building a brand new green field network from the ground up and constructing all new towers.
“We initially had tower leasing and sharing discussions with both Digicel and Telikom/bmobile, however no arrangements were reached, hence our decision to construct new towers.
“We are launching with just over 500 base stations, covering Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Mt Hagen and Goroka and by Christmas, we intend to have 800 sites live.”