6 May 2014

New entrant in PNG mobile service

10:17 am on 6 May 2014

The Papua New Guinea government has awarded a third mobile phone licence worth more than US$260 million to a Dubai-based multinational firm, Awal Telecommunications Corporation Limited.

The Post Courier paper says the presentation was done in a low key event early last month and was attended by government officals.

It says Awal has a diversified business portfolio and operates in 26 countries from Africa to the Middle East and South East Asia.

Their services include mobile operation, gateway operation, BTS ownership and leasing including broadcasting services.

Their entry into the PNG market brings to three the number of mobile phone operators in the country.

Currently, Bmobile and Digicel provide a mobile telephony service with Digicel reportedly having over 50% of the market share.

Awal's three licences are for a ten year period and will expire on March 13, 2024.