Tech a non-issue
FUNDING constraints rather than technology was the limiting factor in connecting Fiji’s “unconnected” population, said Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) chief executive officer Ivan Fong.
In an interview with The Fiji Times, Mr Fong said connectivity was always pursued in tandem with the communication technologies of the day.
“Throughout the various eras, the perennial issue has not been one of technological capability to provide connectivity, but rather the constraints on funding support to achieve the desired objectives,” Mr Fong said.
“As I am aware, the operators in the ATH Group and also possibly others as well have always explored and found ways to use the technologies of the day in connecting rural and isolated communities in Fiji.
“Early on, prior to digital telecommunications, shortwave, high frequency radio and very high frequency radios were deployed to deliver voice telephony.
“As digital technologies became available, service delivery mechanisms evolved to use the digital radio concentrators, digital microwave transmission technologies and digital satellite transmission to facilitate connection.
“In more recent times, the group and other operators have used various microwave and broadband satellite technologies to provide services to rural and non-economic areas.
“In similar vein, the latest innovations in this space can be accommodated as another tool in the arsenal that operators have to provide connectivity.”
The latest innovation, which has come from American satellite broadband service provider Starlink through its Low Earth Orbit satellite technology, is being considered by most, including ATH, as “another tool” to bridge the connectivity gap, which, according to Government data, is five per cent of the population.
In an earlier interview with this newspaper, Minister for Trade and Communications Manoa Kamikamica said the Government is “trying to talk to the industry about how to mobilise and connect the unconnected”, given that Starlink’s infrastructure is skybased.
“This was the conversation with Vodafone Fiji, Telecom Fiji and Digicel Fiji in terms of how do we reach those who are not connected right now in terms of communication.
“Starlink is a solution and if people want to use Starlink, they’re quite welcome to use them.”
Mr Fong said ATH remains engaged with relevant stakeholders on the matter.
“The ATH Group remains engaged with Government, the authorities and other service providers to understand the priorities regarding things such as connectivity and to work out the most feasible and efficient ways of doing so.
“In this sense, we maintain a technology agnostic perspective in formulating effective solutions for each particular situation.
“So, should Starlink or any other solution, for that matter, prove to be the optimum choice then our implementations would reflect the same.
“Going back to the analogy of each being a tool in the service provider’s toolbox, the answer is to simply choose the right tool for the job,” Mr Fong said.
The ATH Group, which has operations in other Pacific countries, is majority owned by the Fiji National Provident Fund and is the parent company of Vodafone Fiji, Telecom Fiji and the Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd (FINTEL).