Fiji - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband
Mobile broadband pricing reductions will see uptake increase
The interim government is still overseeing the country operation in 2013 until the parliamentary elections for a new government are held in September 2014. The current government continues to make more fundamental changes aiming to bring continued growth to the country. Recent policies include a reduction in the duty of smartphones that aims to bring the internet into the hands of the people across the islands. Further changes into the coming years aim to see digital spectrum become available after the analogue TV transmission is converted to digital.
Other polices include the broadband policy aims to have 95% of the population with internet speeds of a minimum of 2MB/s by 2016. This is an exponential increase on the 1% of the population that have this speed in 2012. The opening of community tele-centres with more to come online in 2013, have seen tens of thousands now having access to theses centres.
As with many other Pacific countries, Fiji also relies on the valuable contribution that the tourism dollar brings. In 2012 tourism was up again, albeit by a small amount. But the cyclonic conditions that occurred from late 2012 to early 2013 may see the economy slow slightly as damage to infrastructure and early tourism departures occurred.
Mobile broadband pricing from the mobile network operators (MNOs) Digicel and Vodafone has finally seen decent reductions in price and mobile data limits lifted into early 2013. A lower price point and the greater availability of lower priced tablets as well as the reductions in duty of modems and smartphones should now see conditions available that will increase participation and penetration rates.
A key economic benefit from mobile money transfers is occurring across Fiji now that many of the unbanked in Fiji have access to mobile payments. The mobile payments from both MNOs been enabled to pay for services as well as receive money from friends and relative living outside of the country. Millions of dollars of transactions have now occurred since the money transfer services commenced only a couple of years ago. Increased usage is nearly guaranteed, as in early 2013 the release of a new e-ticketing service saw the e-tickets sold out well in advance of planned uptake.
Key e-indicators of Fiji early 2013
Sector | 2013 | Annual change
Estimates of subscribers to telecom services (thousand):
Mobile subscribers | 735 | 1%
Mobile broadband | 160 | 7%
Fixed broadband | 25 | 8%
Fixed lines | 130 | 0%
Facebook users | 180 | 19%
Internet users | 180 | 20%
(Source: BuddeComm)
- 1. Executive summary
- 2. Key statistics
- 2.1 Country overview
- 3. Telecommunications market
- 3.1 Overview of Fiji's telecom market
- 4. Regulatory environment
- 4.1 Background
- 4.2 Regulatory authorities
- 4.3 The Radisson Accord and Deeds of Settlement
- 4.4 Telecom sector liberalisation in Fiji
- 4.5 Telecommunication services price regulation
- 4.5.1 Background
- 4.5.2 Network termination rates
- 4.5.3 Telecommunications Levy
- 4.6 Compulsory Registration of Customers for Telephone Services Decree 2010
- 4.7 Spectrum management
- 5. Telecommunications infrastructure
- 5.1 National telecom network
- 5.1.1 Overview
- 5.1.2 Fixed line statstics
- 5.1.3 Next Generation Network (NGN)
- 5.1.4 Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
- 5.1.5 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs)
- 5.1.6 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
- 5.1.7 Fiji Internet Exchange (FIX) and the need for a Internet Exchange Point (IXP)
- 5.2 International infrastructure
- 5.2.1 Overview
- 5.2.2 Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN)
- 5.2.3 Tonga to connect to Southern Cross cable
- 5.2.4 Satellite expansion planned
- 5.3 Fixed Network operator
- 5.3.1 Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Ltd (ATH)
- 5.3.2 Financial statistical information
- 5.3.3 Telecom Fiji Ltd (TFL)
- 5.3.4 Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd (Fintel)
- 5.3.5 Pacific Emerging Technologies Limited (PET)
- 6. Internet market
- 6.1 Overview
- 6.2 Internet statistics
- 6.3 Internet Service Providers
- 6.3.1 Overview of the ISP market
- 6.3.2 Connect
- 6.3.3 Fintel Internet Services Ltd (Kidanet)
- 6.3.4 Unwired Fiji
- 7. Broadband access market
- 7.1 Fixed broadband
- 7.2 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
- 7.3 Wireless broadband
- 7.3.1 WiFi
- 7.3.2 WiMAX
- 7.3.3 Internet via satellite
- 8. Digital economy
- 8.1 National broadband policy
- 8.1.1 Overview
- 8.1.2 Tele-centre project to bridge the digital divide
- 8.2 E-government
- 8.3 E-money
- 8.4 E-payments Customer preferred Currency (CPC)
- 9. Digital media
- 9.1 Radio overview
- 9.1.1 Fiji Broadcasting Limited
- 9.1.2 Communications Fiji Ltd (CFM),
- 9.2 FTA TV
- 9.2.1 Digital TV conversion
- 9.2.2 FBC TV
- 9.2.3 Fiji TV
- 9.2.4 MAI TV
- 9.3 Pay TV
- 9.3.1 SKY Pacific
- 9.3.2 Pacific Broadcasting Services (PBS)
- 10. Mobile communications
- 10.1 Overview of Fiji's mobile market
- 10.2 Mobile statistics
- 10.3 Mobile regulatory environment
- 10.3.1 Opt-in for mobile messaging.
- 10.3.2 Third generation (3G) mobile
- 10.4 Major mobile operators
- 10.4.1 Vodafone Fiji Ltd (VFL)
- 10.4.2 Digicel Fiji Ltd
- 10.4.3 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- 10.5 Mobile broadband (access)
- 10.5.1 Mobile broadband
- 10.5.2 Statistics
- 10.6 Mobile content and applications
- 10.6.1 M-commerce (micropayments)
- 10.6.2 SMS banking
- 10.6.3 Mobile TV
- 10.6.4 Facebook
- 11. Related reports
- Table 1 Country statistics 2014 (e)
- Table 2 Telephone network statistics 2012
- Table 3 Internet statistics 2012
- Table 4 Broadband statistics 2012
- Table 5 Mobile statistics 2014
- Table 6 National telecommunications authorities
- Table 7 Evolution of GDP and inflation in Fiji 2006 - 2014
- Table 8 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1994 - 2013
- Table 9 Price comparison of VSAT packages in outer islands Apr 2013
- Table 10 ATH key performance financial data indicators 2007 - 2014
- Table 11 Internet bandwidth 1999 - 2012
- Table 12 Internet users and internet penetration rate 1996 - 2012
- Table 13 Fixed internet subscribers, annual change and penetration rate 1996 - 2013
- Table 14 Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2004 - 2013
- Table 15 Snapshot of Connect broadband pricing versus speed 2011 - 2013
- Table 16 Snapshot of Connect Velocity ADSL2 pricing versus speed 2013
- Table 17 FTV key financial performance data 2007 - 2012
- Table 18 Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate 2005 - 2014
- Table 19 Mobile subscribers, annual change and penetration rate (historic) 1996 - 2004
- Table 20 Vodafone prepaid versus postpaid subscribers 2009 - 2014
- Table 21 Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration rate 2008 - 2012
- Table 22 Usage of Facebook overview - 2010 - 2013
- Chart 1 Overview of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2000 - 2013
- Chart 2 Overview of ATH key performance financial figures indicators 2007 - 2014
- Chart 3 Overview of internet users and population penetration 2004 - 2013
- Chart 4 Overview of fixed internet subscribers, annual change and penetration 2004 - 2013
- Chart 5 Overview of broadband subscribers, annual change and penetration 2004 - 2013
- Chart 6 Overview of FTV key financial information 2007 - 2012
- Chart 7 Overview of mobile subscribers and penetration rate 2004 - 2014
- Exhibit 1 Regulatory and telecoms background a brief overview 1895 - 2007
- Exhibit 2 Subscriber details are required for phone registration
- Exhibit 3 Analysis of proposed undersea and satellite networks which may arrive in 2012-2013
- Exhibit 4 Bandwidth pricing reductions
- Exhibit 5 An overview of University of the South Pacific, AARNet and Japan-Pacific ICT
- Exhibit 6 An overview of mobile money in Fiji
- Exhibit 7 The award of the second mobile licence
- Exhibit 8 A brief overview of the M-PAiSA system