The government is now making an assessment on how the Universal Service Fund can be utilized to connect the unconnected communities.
Calls are being made by people in parts of the Northern Division to look into their plight as some areas have no phone, mobile phone and internet connectivity.
Some of the residents that have raised concerns have told Fijivillage that they have never been connected, they want to know when they will have these much-needed services and whether the Universal Service Fund will be utilized to get them connected.
The data levy introduced last year and the telecommunications service licensing fee has been replaced with a single 2% revenue-based telecommunications licence fee.
Half of a percent of that new, simplified fee is going into the existing Universal Service Fund set aside for the continued development of Fiji’s telecommunications industry.
We have received complaints from some of the residents living along the coastline from Seaqaqa to Bua.
They have told us that there is hardly any phone, mobile or internet connectivity in areas like Naqumu Village in Seaqaqa, parts of Naduri, Raviravi in Macuata, Naividamu village, Niurua, parts of Nabouwalu, Wairiki, Navakasiga, Lekutu, Dreketi and other areas.
Naividamu Village. [image: maunieofardwall.blogspot]
We have also been informed that it has been really hard for these residents as they have to go to certain places from their villages and settlements to get mobile reception.
Some people have told us that if there is an accident along the Highway on the coastlines, sometimes no one is aware, or it will take time for people and even authorities to find out about it.
Some residents also say that the reliable Ezytel service from TFL has also been discontinued in these areas.
Residents in parts of the Central, Western and Eastern divisions who are also facing connectivity issues are seeking answers and timelines on when telecommunications infrastructure will be set up in their areas to ensure they are connected.
Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had a ICT stakeholders meeting earlier this week, and is now awaiting the plans to be put forward by the companies.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there are options like the utilisation of the Universal Service Fund, use of the 23 Walesi towers and co-siting.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the questions that need to be addressed are what can the government do to put another tower, what can companies like Vodafone and Digicel and what can Walesi do.
He says they do not want a child in a maritime area to lose out because the children in Suva have fantastic connectivity.
The Minister also says the government has over $1 million from the World Bank to connect Vanua Levu to the Southern Cross Cable – and they are planning to connect nursing stations, schools etc to the internet.
Sayed-Khaiyum says this needs to be done quickly.
He also says that there is no point in companies outdoing each other but we need a collaborative approach.
The Attorney General also says there are 4 or 5 media companies but they don’t share their towers. He says this is a problem as site sharing will also reduce capital costs for companies.
Stay with us as we will also speak to TFL, Vodafone and Digicel on the issue being raised by residents in unconnected areas.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
