Telikom must be truthful about public investment

 I WRITE to comment on the news article “Telikom PNG stepping up in internet industry” (The National,May 29). 

It is public knowledge that the Government recently separated the wholesale data and internet business from Telikom to the newly established Government organization called DataCo to sell internet band with services as a wholesaler to the Internet Service Providers (ISP’S). 

Why is Telikom claiming DataCo’s success in this business as theirs? 

Telikom should rather be explaining how their retail internet business is doing. Telikom has reportedly invested millions of Kina in constructing road side mini data and voice switches in NCD and other centres like Madang to connect businesses and residents. Telikom insiders have reported that there is nil return on investment on this project which is a total waste of public funds. 

Telikom must tell the stakeholder, namely the Government and the people of this nation, the truth about outcomes in the use of public money on its investments. 

Can the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) investigate to ensure Telikom’s investments are achieving their intended return on investment?  

Concerned Citizen

Waigani