FINTEL completes pricing review

August 24, 2009 02:51:55 PM

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Long distance carrier FINTEL (Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd) has completed its in-house cost model in anticipation of a review of its pricing structure by Fiji’s Commerce Commission. 

FINTEL Manager Commercial and Business Development George Samisoni told Fiji Live the company was ready for the review although it has yet to hear from the Commerce Commission. 

“We’ve hired an independent consultant to carry out our in-house cost model and we are waiting for the Commerce Commission to review our pricing structure as part of the review on substantial market power that it is currently undertaking,” Samisoni said. 

The Commerce Commission had announced in June that it was undertaking what it termed a “Review of the Control of Substantial Market Power for Interconnection Services in the Fiji Islands” with a call for submission scheduled to close by the month end, a public hearing to take place on the first week of July and a draft determination to be produced by mid July week. 

It was expected to adopt its final determination by end of July and this was to be followed by a separate review of FINTEL’s pricing structure.  The entire process has however been delayed as a draft determination is yet to be made by the Commission. 

With Fiji’s telecommunication market undergoing major liberalization and a matching pricing structure yet to be determined, some friction had recently been experienced in the provision of international call services, with FINTEL barring call services offered by former bedmate Telecom Fiji Ltd to Pacific island countries.  

This had forced the government to intervene and direct the two parties to come to an amicable solution.

Samisoni told Fiji Live the issue had been resolved that both TFL and FINTEL have agreed on a commercial arrangement that was “fair to both parties”. 

TFL previously held exclusive licenses in the provision of domestic telecommunication services while FINTEL held exclusivity for international telecommunication but these exclusive arrangements have been revoked following an official deed signed between them and the Fiji government in January last year.