Pacific Connex seeks stop to new mobile licences
Thursday August 23, 2007

Pacific Connex Limited has applied for a court injunction to halt the granting of new mobile telecommunication licences for new operators in Fiji.

This comes after the interim administration last month advertised for more applications for mobile licences after promising to deregulate the industry.

Pacific Connex, which is owned by local businessman Ballu Khan, is contesting that the opening of the mobile market is contrary to the 1989 Post and Telecommunications Decree.

The company is also seeking the injunction basing it on a claim made by "extensive market research" it did in April 2006 that more than two mobile phone networks cannot viably operate in Fiji.

The matter will be heard in the High Court on October 11.

Pacific Connex had applied for a mobile licence in 2006 and was given an "approval in principle" by the deposed Communications Minister Isireli Lewenigila. Digicel Fiji was also given a similar approval.

Interim Communications Minister Taito Waradi has said that his ministry is committed to deregulating the telecommunications sector this year with the mobile industry as priority.