Kila Gulo-Viu, chief executive of Papua New Guinea’s National Information and Communications Technology (NICTA), has reportedly confirmed that new mobile network operator (MNO) Vodafone PNG has inked interconnection agreements with incumbents Digicel PNG and Telikom PNG.
According to local press outlet The National, the CEO said: ‘Telikom and Vodafone concluded interconnection agreement last Wednesday. This a very important development in the context of competition as both subscribers from these networks can talk to each other … Vodafone also has a separate interconnection agreement with Digicel. Vodafone customers can call and text all subscribers now, whether you are with Telikom/bmobile or Digicel.’
As previously reported by CommsUpdate, last month Vodafone PNG announced its entry into the Papua New Guinea mobile sector. At an official launch event in late-April 2022 the new MNO confirmed it had switched on ‘just over 500 base stations, covering Port Moresby, Lae, Madang, Hagen and Goroka, which covers approximately 50% of the population’. Looking ahead, Vodafone PNG has said it aims to have 800 sites live in the next eight months, progressively expanding coverage to 22 provinces, while within twelve to 18 months it targets 1,200 sites in operation, and 90% population coverage.