Telecom market power review delayed again

October 20, 2009 12:18:01 PM

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The conclusions of a major review to determine whether substantial market power exists in Fiji’s telecommunications industry has been delayed yet again. 

The review had been undertaken by the Commerce Commission, Fiji’s monopoly watchdog in June, with a draft determination scheduled to be produced at the end of June and a final determination to be adopted by the end of July.

However, as of last week, there was still no sign of a concluding document from the Commerce Commission, and no reason given as to why there has been a delay.

“The draft determination has already been prepared and we had sent them out to the telecom companies for them to look at. You have to understand these things are very complex and we cannot promise anything at the moment. We will make an announcement as soon as something is confirmed,” Commission chairman Mahendra Reddy told Fiji Live last week. 

Reddy had previously told Fiji Live that an announcement was due late September, but this had not eventuated.

In June, the Commission had announced it was undertaking a “Review of the Control of Substantial Market Power for Interconnection Services in the Fiji Islands,” from which it would determine whether a certain company enjoyed substantial market power, upon which the Commerce Commission would need to intervene. 
 
Monopoly licenses was officially removed from Fiji’s telecommunication market following the signing in January 2008 of a Deed of Settlement between the Fiji government and incumbent operators, for the premature ending of their exclusive licenses in return for free 14-year open licenses. 

Its mobile telephony market was officially open on October 1, 2008, which saw the launch of Digicel in Fiji. 

In July this year, international telecommunication access was also officially opened.