Mobile Interconnection Deferred, Yet Again
The Papua New Guinea government-owned B-Mobile network is failing to deliver SMS sent by Digicel mobile phone users, compelling both companies to defer interconnection.
The technical glitch is one of several reasons behind the further delay in interconnection between Digicel’s PNG users and those of the rival network.
Telikom PNG Ltd, the parent company of B-Mobile Ltd, initially announced that it will be ready to interconnect this Sunday.
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However, B-Mobile’s problems with its SMS system as well as its failure to capture all interconnection billing information has resulted in both networks putting off interconnection.
Telikom initially said it was ready to interconnect on January 31, but sources within the telecommunications sector say at that time, it only provided a single voice circuit which was capable of only carrying a maximum 30 calls simultaneously at its Port Moresby interconnect link. The side-effect would have been congestion of the system, which is why Digicel is pushing for eight signaling links for Port Moresby and not three.
It is understood Telikom has only commissioned three signaling links, which would mean only 300 callers being able to make a successful call simultaneously.
Nevertheless, it appears progress is slowly been made as Telikom has indicated it is likely to do interconnect testing for mobile-to-mobile calls in Kokopo, Lae and Mt Hagen next week – after its workers install digital microwave radios (DMR) at Kokopo and Mt Hagen and lay a fiber optic cable to connect its Lae Exchange with that of Digicel in Eriku.
It is understood the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) convened an urgent meeting with the two networks last month to get an update on moves to enable interconnection.
Communication and Information Minister Patrick Tammur said the government did not want to see a repeat of such a situation when open competition is introduced into the country under phase 2 of the government’s ICT Policy.
“The government does not want to see a repeat of the delays experienced in connecting the Digicel and Telikom networks over the past two weeks and will legislate to ‘assist’ the process,” he added.
It is understood a commercial agreement to govern interconnect pricing structures for the two networks is yet to be discussed, despite Digicel giving a draft agreement to Telikom for its comments last week.
A resolution on the matter would ensure disputes do not occur between the two rival networks over pricing.
