Communications Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the 4G auction exceeded expectations, raising more than $5 million for Fijians and opening the door to the future of 4G service, providing smart phone users super fast internet connections including streaming, browsing, and video calling.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the Fijian people own the airwaves.
He said on behalf of the people, the government for the first time insisted on a transparent competitive process to allocate the frequencies on the radio spectrum used by mobile phone carriers.
He said the people are entitled to fair compensation in return for the right of these companies to use the public’s airwaves to make a profit.
Digicel Fiji spent just over $1.94 million and secured 30 megahertz of 4G frequencies following the Communications Ministry organised 4G auction.
Digicel CEO Maurice McCarthy said they are absolutely delighted that they have achieved the target of the full allocation of frequencies to compliment the 4G Wi-max network that Digicel already has.
The company had secured three lots of 4G frequencies on Monday which was worth $1.26 million.
McCarthy said they secured $685,000 worth of frequencies after the closing bids yesterday afternoon.
He said they are now looking at the cheapest devices for customers.
TFL Acting Chief Executive Ivan Fong has also announced that they have secured $2.2 million worth of frequencies after the auction.
They have also secured 30 megahertz.
Fong said they are now focusing on what services they will be providing in the near future.
Vodafone Fiji bought 6 lots of 4G frequencies at a total cost of $864,000 in the first-ever auction of 4G frequencies in Suva on Monday.
Vodafone exited the auction on the first day.
4G is the fourth generation of mobile phone communication technology standards which provides mobile ultra-broadband internet access to laptops with USB wireless modems, smartphones, and to other mobile devices.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Sofaia Koroitanoa
