June 26, 2003

Fiji: Bula Internet

Vanessa Gray and Michael Minges. 2004. Bula Internet: Fiji ICT Case Study. Geneva, Switzerland: International Telecommunication Union.


The country's long-term telecommunication monopoly was identified as a major barrier. The fact that there are different operators for each telecommunication segment (local, mobile, international and Internet) adds to higher pricing. With this market situation Fiji is missing the benefits that a more competitive telecom market would provide such as lower prices, better quality, enhanced innovation and greater customer focus. Fiji's mobile peak time call charges, for example, are among the highest in the world and given the current levels of coverage and tariffs mobile penetration (at around eleven percent) is probably close to saturation. Market liberalization and sector reform are crucial. This was one of the key recommendations yet not implemented until almost four years later. See "Telecommunication deregulation today". Fiji Times Online. January 17, 2008:


"THE deregulation of Fiji's telecommunication industry is expected to take place this morning, reports Pacnews. The official signing of the Settlement Deed between Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited and Fiji's interim Government would be held at the Reserve Bank of Fiji, it has been confirmed. This would result in the deregulation of Fijis telecommunication industry."


Jale Curuki (Ministry of Communications), Vanessa Gray, Josua Turaganivalu (Ministry of Communications) and Michael Minges

No comments:

Post a Comment