Vodafone Fiji launches 3G network

Vodafone Fiji has launched its 3G network over the past few days. The 3G network will bring about more speed and data capacity on the company's mobile network. Improvements that users can expect include :

• watching TV and movies on your mobile handsets at high speeds;
• video calling;
• high speed picture messaging;
• high speed Internet services.

The company could also consider reducing its rates further and improving speeds on its mobile Internet gadgets.

Individuals and groups that need investment advice can use our company, Gilbert & Samuels Company Limited. We also do strategic planning and business continuity planning consultancy. Our contacts are: telephone (679) 3342719 or e-mail: info@gilbert.com.fj.

Telecommunications Sector Opens Up : More joy for businesses

It has been a good week for businesses in Fiji with the telecommunications sector opened up this week.

The week has seen all stakeholders including Government and the three sole telecommunications providers agreeing on some formula for compensating providers for cancellation of the monopoly rights that they have over the industry.

During the week, we have also seen two companies given licences to operate Voice-Over-Internet Protocol services in Fiji which will see calls overseas falling substantially. One of these companies, Connect Fiji, says in an advertisement in the Fiji Times, Thursday, 22 November 2007, that international calls will fall by up to 60% when its Broadband customers use its new VoIP service which will be available from Monday, 26 November 2007. To access the service, Connect's Broadband customers can dial 021 + country code + overseas number, using their Telecom Fiji telephone line.

Another company has also been granted mobile telephony licence and will soon be introducing its services. The company, Inkk, from Australia is, however, using Vodafone Fiji's network and will pay a charge for use of the network.

Internet charges by one of the providers, Connect Fiji, has seen speeds and download limits doubled with rates remaining the same making them one of the best in this area.

Over recent days, we have heard of more new products and services being offered, either by the existing companies or by the newly licensed ones. That is basically the effect of competition, when service providers will need to have good and innovative product development areas which will continually test the boundaries of services in terms of quality, range of services, to be on the one-up at all times in relation to one's competitors.

Businesses will benefit more as telecommunication rates reduce, markets will open up, bringing in more business.

For this at least we thank the authorities for taking action on some of the things that we have been hearing for many years.

Government opens up telecommunications sector

Government has opened up the telecommunications sector.

Currently, Government is in the process of negotiating a compensation package for the monopoly provider of telecommunications services in the country, with the assistance of technical experts from the World Bank. This is expected to be completed by 20 November 2007.

Compensation may be in cash or other form.

The three companies that currently hold exclusive licenses in the telecommunications sector in Fiji are FINTEL (international calls), Telecom Fiji (domestic fixed line) and Vodafone (mobile).

The opening of the telecommunications sector will bring in more competition as more players are permitted to set up operations in Fiji.

Internet rates still to fall

Internet charges by the various Internet Service Providers operating in Fiji are still to come down after the Commerce Commission ruling recently.

While the telephone and mobile telecommunications providers, Vodafone Fiji and Telecom Fiji, have reduced their rates from 1 October 2007, Connect Fiji, Kidanet and Unwired Fiji are still to reduce their charges for Internet.

Telecommunications, Internet and utilities make up a major proportion of the costs of running a business in Fiji.

We would expect the rates charged by the various Internet Service Providers to fall over the next few days.

Telecommunications rates fall from today

Telecommunication rates fall with effect from today, 1 October 2007. Here is information mobile telecommunications rates for Postpay customers :

• Mobile to Mobile, 16 cents per minute from 18 cents per minute;
• Mobile to Fixed Line, 41 cents per minute from 46 cents per minute;
• Voicemail, remains at 9 cents per minute;
• TXT messages, remains at 20 cents per message;
• Mobile to International, 41 cents per minute + IDD rate, from 46 cents per minute + IDD rate.

New Telecom Fiji international call rates are as follows :

• calls to Zone Z (e.g. Australia, NZ) - 60.03 cents per minute from 75.04 cents per minute;
• calls to Zone V (to toehr South Pacific countries) - 75.23 cents per minute from 94.04 cents per minute;
• calls to Zone Y (e.g. China, France, Japan) - 75.23 cents per minute from 94.04 cents per minute;
• calls to Zone M (e.g. Australia, NZ mobiles) - 83.59 cents per minute from $1.0449 per minute;
• calls to Zone X (e.g. Bahamas, India, Turkey) - $1.1399 per minute from $1.4248 per minute;
• calls to Zone W (e.g. Kenya, Palau, Vietnam) - $1.5122 per minute from $1.8902 per minute;
• calls to Zone I (Inmarsat) - $13.50 per minute from $16.8750 per minute.

Figures are provided in Fijian Dollars and cents. For more information, pls visit the two companies' respective websites on http://www.vodafone.com.fj/ and http://www.tfl.com.fj/.

More mobile telecommunications providers being sought

The Interim Government is looking for more mobile telecommunications providers to operate in Fiji.

The Government has expressed interest in issuing more licences to providers of mobile telecommunications to come in and provide services in Fiji.

Digicel, a Caribbean based company, has indicated interest in setting up operations in Fiji.

Currently, only Vodafone Fiji, a subsidiary of Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited, provides mobile services in the country.

Telecommunications companies invest F$110 million

The telecommunications companies in Fiji, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH) and Vodafone, will be investing a total of F$110 million on capital works in 2007.

Of that amount, ATH will be investing F$77 million to upgrade its telephone network to increase capacity and provide new services while Vodafone will spend F$33 million to upgrade its services in the rural areas.

Read more on the articles from the Fiji Times below.


"ATH invests $77million, Thursday, June 14, 2007

Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) intends to spend $77million in capital expenditure in the financial year ending March 31, 2008.

Group acting chief executive Tomasi Vakatora said this included $42.2m to be spent on upgrading and extending Telecom Fiji's national telephone network to increase capacity and accommodate new services, and improve internal processes.

"The planned capital expenditure of $77m is the largest investment by the ATH Group since its inauguration in late 1998," Mr Vakatora said.

About $33.1m has been allocated towards upgrading and extending Vodafone Fiji's cellular mobile telephone network.

"This is a clear sign of the group's commitment because it is in addition to $294.9m that has been spent on capital expenditure from the group's inauguration to the end of the last financial year ending March 31, 2007," he said.

Mr Vakatora earlier said the group's financial position remained sound and a good result was expected.

ATHs annual report is expected to be released by the end of June. ATH and its group of companies recorded an interim net after-tax profit of $21.3m for the half year ended September 30, 2006. "



"$33.1m for Vodafone upgrade, Friday, June 15, 2007

Vodafone is looking at investing $33.1million for the current financial year and upgrade its network concentrating more on rural areas.

Amalgamated Telecom Holdings acting chief executive Tomasi Vakatora said the company was looking forward to investing more on the infrastructure.

This was revealed at the commissioning of the Naigani island base station at Queen Victoria School in Tailevu last Saturday.

He said this would be an additional finance to the $148.4m on capital expenditure the company had invested on since it began operating in 1994.

The ATH group of which Vodafone Fiji is a very valuable member intends to spend a total of $76.8m in capital expenditure in the current financial year to March 31, 2008, Mr Vakatora said.

This amount includes the $33.1m commitment that I have just mentioned for Vodafone Fiji.
It will be in addition to $294.9m the ATH group has spent since its inauguration in late 1988, he said.

Mr Vakatora said this was a clear sign of the groups commitment to Fiji.

As Vodafone Fiji continues to widen coverage, it is also introducing additional services and reducing charges and there is still a lot more to come, he said. "