10 Apr 2009

Digicel pulls out of Kiribati plans

3:41 pm on 10 April 2009

Pacific communications giant Digicel has cancelled plans to establish service in Kiribati, saying the government telecommunications agency prevented it from establishing operations.

According to the government's Telecommunications Authority Kiribati, the anticipated arrival of Digicel will not happen.

Digicel blamed the Authority for the lack of cooperation to fulfill expectations.

But the accusations were denied by the Authority's CEO Bwanouia Aberaam, who said Digicel wanted some exemptions.

Mr Aberaam says Digicel also wanted to use a Fiji mobile country code and a Mobile Network Code, which was also denied because whatever problem happens in Fiji will affect customers in Kiribati.