Digicel Pacific has announced it will acquire Tonfon Communications, a wireless network operator, ISP and TV broadcaster based on the island of Tonga. Tonfon is currently part of the Shoreline Group of Companies owned by King George Tupou V. ‘As part of the programme for His Majesty to withdraw from commercial interests in Tonga, an agreement has been reached with Digicel Pacific for the sale of the telecoms business,’ a spokesperson for the monarch said.
Vanessa Slowey, CEO of Digicel Pacific said she expected the paperwork for the sale to be completed by the end of the year. ‘We are very excited about the company coming into the market and our transition plan starts in January for the company to go from Tonfon to the Digicel brand name,’ she said. Digicel will compete with one other wireless network operator, the government owned Tonga Communications Corporation. Tonga is reported to have around 30,000 mobile subscribers in total, of which Tonfon claimed about two thirds.