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 ca