Analysis: the shape of things to come in digital marketing

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From a Papua New Guinea perspective, the most striking thing about attending Australia’s major annual media and marketing conference last week was the irrelevance of so much of the content, writes Robert Hamilton-Jones.

Around the world: High profile violence/Vodafone in Madrid/mining approval delays/busy Pacific Beat/Greek sell-off

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PNG violence, Vodafone in Madrid, PNG criticised for mining delays, the gold crash leads to a gold rush, and much more news from around the world

Vodafone Bemobile: the work begins

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The transformation of Bemobile mobile phone company following last week’s reported restructure has begun, with Bemobile’s Regional CEO for Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Pradeep Lal, already in PNG to take the reins, and a contract to roll out 300 more towers in place.

People moves: Bemobile, Westpac, Cue Energy Resources, InterOil

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Major changes at Bemobile as Vodafone steps in to take over, while Westpac MD and InterOil CEO announce departures.

Vodafone Bemobile to boost mobile phone competition

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Mobile phone competition in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands is about to get tougher, after a deal which will see about US$250m (K550 million) in new funding for PNG’s second carrier, BeMobile, which will see it relaunched as Vodafone BeMobile.

Update: Solomon Islands continues to provide business opportunities

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Economic growth in Solomon Islands is expected to rise at a moderate four to five percent this year, a little lower than the 5.5% growth rate in 2012.

How smart is your smartphone?

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With 3G and wireless broadband data services increasingly more commonplace in Papua New Guinea and the region, smartphones are gaining a hold in the market. This follows a global trend: according to technology analysts Gartner Inc, smartphone sales grew by 38.3% in 2012, while overall mobile phone sales actually fell 1.7%—the first fall since 2009. Up […]

Vodafone Papua New Guinea?

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The future of Papua New Guinea’s struggling mobile phone company Bemobile remains undecided, but it does seem increasingly likely that Vodafone Fiji will take over the running of the company. This post from last August on tech site Memeburn provides some useful context for this slow-burning story.  

PNG’s infrastructure challenge

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Papua New Guinea requires significant investment in infrastructure. Deloitte’s Lutz Heim examines the opportunities and challenges in this sector. PNG’s infrastructure needs a substantial and urgent upgrade, in anticipation of increased stress and after a number of years of underinvestment, particularly during the lean years before 2004, and this is recognised by government and business […]

BSP leads Papua New Guinea’s charge into the Solomons

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Papua New Guinea firms are playing a key role in the Solomon Islands as investment floods in. The opening of a landmark new head office building in central Honiara marks the final stage of the takeover by Bank South Pacific (BSP) of the former National Bank of Solomon Islands (NBSI). It also symbolizes the pivotal […]