Telikom PNG is upgrading and expanding its network, after earlier this month signing a K600 million (US$200 million) deal with Chinese technology provider Huawei. Chairman Mahesh Patel outlines where the money will be spent and commits the state-owned telco to improving its customer service.
A curious thing has been happening in the Pacific. Instead of running trade and investment road-shows in Australia, New Zealand or China, two Pacific Island countries have been courting investment from each other, observes Jenny Hayward-Jones.
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.
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
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.
Major changes at Bemobile as Vodafone steps in to take over, while Westpac MD and InterOil CEO announce departures.
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.
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.
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.
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.