Mobile phone entrant fails first requirement: bemobile penalised

SOLOMON STAR

NEW mobile phone entrant bemobile has failed to live up to one of the first requirements under its licence.
This had cost the Papua New Guinea-based telecommunications company USD$1.5 million (SBD$12 million).
Telecommunications commissioner Nicholas Williams said he had taken the $12 million from a demand guarantee of USD$10 million (SBD$80) provided by bemobile to ensure its compliance with the network coverage obligation in its licence.
Under its licence, mobile is required to launch a network serving 25 per cent of the population by 18 June 2010.  Mr Williams said he had given bemobile an extension until 30 August to become compliant with its licence.  “If bemobile were not to meet this new deadline, I will take an additional USD$1 million (SBD$8m) from the demand guarantee,” he said.

“There are further coverage thresholds that bemobile is required to meet,” Mr Williams said.
He said he expects bemobile to work strenuously and diligently to meet these thresholds and catch up with the original network deployment timetable envisaged in its licence.
The Government awarded bemobile its licence 18 December 2009 ahead of the more promising Digicel.

Chief Executive Officer Julien Coustaury had previously assured the nation that his company will launch its operations in time according to the requirements under its licence.

But he had failed to live up to his words. Many had doubted the company launching its operations this year, saying bemobile is yet to build even one telecommunications tower.
Mr Coustaury, who is away overseas on vacation, could not be reached yesterday for comments.
The company is currently preparing to move into its new office at Point Cruz, which they leased from Solomon Airlines.

No official was prepared to talk to the Solomon Star yesterday when asked for comment.
A spokesman said only Mr Coustaury can speak to the media.

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