PROJECTS
Review of Papua New Guinea Telecommunications Regulation
The problem
Digicel was threatened by a proposed change to regulation in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that would give competitors access to Digicel’s mobile towers.
As a new entrant Digicel had invested US$120 million in telecommunications infrastructure and built 120 mobile towers to ensure high levels of coverage. The incumbent telecommunications company, which had a poor network and few mobile towers, had proposed the change in regulation.
How we helped
Castalia made a submission against compulsory third-party access to Digicel’s mobile infrastructure as part of a review process run by the regulator—the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA). We developed detailed analysis, compared other jurisdictions and examined the market in PNG. We argued that in PNG, where security issues affected operation of mobile towers, security of supply and competition effects of having multiple networks with their own towers outweighed any benefits from sharing of the existing infrastructure.
Impact
Digicel was not required to provide compulsory third-party access to their mobile infrastructure.
How can we help you?
How can we help you?
WASHINGTON, DC
+1 (202) 466-6790
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1200
United States of America
SYDNEY
+61 (2) 9231 6862
Suite 19.01, Level 19, 227 Elizabeth Street
Australia
AUCKLAND
+64 (4) 913 2800
Sinclair House, 3 Glenside Crescent
New Zealand
WELLINGTON
+64 (4) 913 2800
Level 2, 88 The Terrace
New Zealand
PARIS
+33 (0)1 85 64 10 22
3B Rue Taylor
France
BOGOTÁ
+57 (1) 508 5794
Calle 81 #11-08, Piso 5, Oficina 5-121
Colombia
Thinking for a better world.

WASHINGTON, DC
+1 (202) 466-6790
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1200
United States of America
SYDNEY
+61 (2) 9231 6862
Suite 19.01, Level 19, 227 Elizabeth Street
Australia
AUCKLAND
+64 (4) 913 2800
74D France Street, Newton South
New Zealand
WELLINGTON
+64 (4) 913 2800
Level 2, 88 The Terrace
New Zealand
PARIS
+33 (1) 73 44 26 97
6 Rue Duret
France
BOGOTÁ
+57 (1) 508 5794
Calle 81 #11-08, Piso 5, Oficina 5-127
Colombia
Thinking for a better world.
