Darren McLean and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the Digicel 4G Launch. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
SUVA
Digicel Fiji has played a pivotal role in providing competition in the telecommunications industry, acknowledged the Attorney-General and Minister for Communications, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
He was addressing guests in officially launching Digicel’s 4G Network held at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Thursday evening.
Digicel has followed market leaders Vodafone in investing in 4G. It says it has big development plans.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “In providing that competition, it has brought in an array of services, the update of technology and perhaps we would not have had at such a great speed.
“The occasion is not only momentous but it also signifies the liberalisation of service-integrated sectors in Fiji.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum stressed the importance of enabling sectors to have competition as it provided the opportunity for a much-needed innovation-focused society that could lead changes for the better.
He added Digicel’s entrance in the market also provided the competitive edge for the marketing industry.
“The fact they’re using local talents…athletes who probably would not get recognition previously…is a wonderful initiative by Digicel,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“The reality is in order to capture the market, we need to be able to appeal to all sections of the market.”
This is the third mobile company which has come live with the fourth generation mobile telecommunications technology, succeeding 3G in the country.
The 4G network was enabled through a bid organised by Government in July the past year.
During the 4G LTE Spectrum bid, Digicel Fiji secured 15MHz of the 1800 MHz band and 15 MHz of the 700 MHz band.
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