Internet rates

ICCC Chief Executive Officer, Paul Ain, told Loop PNG that the suggested reforms will place them and other regulators in a better position to address the issue.

He said this following the launching of the report ‘Why are internet prices high in Papua New Guinea’ at the National Research Institute yesterday.

Ain said in terms of pricing the National Information & Communications Technology Authority  (NICTA) would step in to regulate.

The call made by NRI Director, Dr Charles Yala, follows the launching of the NRI’s latest report ‘Why are internet rates high in Papua New Guinea?’

“What is the role of the government? A player? A referee? A facilitator or a bit of each?” asks Dr Yala.

“Providing a clear answer to these set of questions will make the work of the regulators easy to define and for the businesses to be clear on their investment opportunities.

Solomon Islands has the second most expensive internet service in the Pacific region.

According to them, the last updated report on internet access affordability on Pacific Islands was three years ago.

“Technological progress in Internet access is slowly but surely being felt in the Pacific.”

It states that ADSL and/or fixed wireless broadband is available in all the countries they have included in their analysis including newcomer Nauru.