Papua New Guinea’s Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has confirmed it is set to begin reassessing the proposed merger of Telikom PNG and PNG DataCo. According to the Post Courier, ICCC chief executive Paulus Ain confirmed that the examination of the proposed tie-up had been put on hold in August last year, after Kumul Consolidated Holding Limited (KCHL) – the statutory corporation that holds several state-owned enterprises, including both Telikom and PNG DataCo – withdrew its application.
Now, with KCHL said to have asked the ICCC to recommence its examination of the deal, the watchdog has confirmed it will do so, with Mr Ain cited as saying: ‘We welcome the request by KCHL for ICCC to recommence the review of the pending authorisation application.’ The executive noted that the competition body will now work with KCHL and other relevant stakeholders to expedite the assessment, with a decision expected within the timeframe required as per the ICCC Act.