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Vodafone Monopoly in Fiji Broken by Digicel
Digicel has won a mobile license for the Pacific nation of Fiji - breaking the long term monopoly enjoyed by Vodafone. Four companies had submitted bids, but Digicel won with a tender of US$10.25 million.
Interim Commerce Minister Tom Ricketts noted that "This outcome has left a possible third PCTMS license, pursuance of a third entrant into the mobile phone market which will be left to the Telecommunication Authority of Fiji (TAF) Board when they choose to do so,"
The other three firms who submitted bids were Pacific Spectrum Holdings, Telecom Pacific and Unwired Fiji. The government also earned US$2 million in tender fees.
Vodafone Fiji ended the year with just under 380,000 subscribers according to figures from the Mobile World database - which represents a population penetration level of just 41% - leaving plenty of opportunity for the new entrant.
Posted to the site on 26th February 2008