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  • Digicel Activates First Shared Tower with Vodafone in Papua New Guinea

    Digicel Activates First Shared Tower with Vodafone in Papua New Guinea

    Digicel PNG switched on commercial network equipment on a Vodafone PNG tower in Minj, completing the first live co-location under their September sharing pact.

    The installation in Jiwaka Province anchors a push to trim capital expenditure in rugged regional terrain where redundant physical builds erode margins.

    Engineers activated services at the site in the administrative capital of the Anglimp-South Waghi District. Digicel confirmed the launch forms part of a nationwide programme to pool passive structures, with a reciprocal deployment scheduled next in Western Highlands Province.

    Cutting Duplicate Build Costs in the Highlands

    Terrain across Papua New Guinea makes greenfield tower construction punitive. Building access roads, shipping diesel generators, and securing isolated masts routinely push setup costs beyond sustainable commercial returns in rural districts. Sharing passive vertical assets lets both operators stretch coverage without duplicating heavy capital spending.

    By splitting site power, perimeter security, and mast maintenance, operators protect cash flow while defending baseline retail pricing. The model shifts competitive pressure from signal coverage to consumer service quality, data bundle pricing, and digital payment reliability.

    Consolidation Across Pacific Carrier Infrastructure

    The operational launch aligns with a broader structural pivot across Pacific mobile operators. Rather than fighting protracted land-access disputes and absorbing high backhaul overheads alone, domestic telcos are treating base infrastructure as shared utility space.

    Carrier balance sheets benefit directly from reduced recurring operating expenditure. For retail consumers and small businesses operating in regional market centres, shared infrastructure brings network redundancy, preventing total commerce blackouts when a single mast loses generator power or transmission links.

    Three Co-Location Pacts Signed Since July

    The Minj activation delivers on an agreement Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG concluded in September. That pact followed Vodafone PNG’s infrastructure-sharing and co-location deal with state-owned Telikom PNG in late July.

    Digicel PNG completed the network circle in October by signing its own separate tower-sharing deal with Telikom PNG. The three bilateral contracts establish a functional co-location framework covering all major licensed mobile operators in the country.

    Work now shifts to Baiyer River Local-Level Government in Western Highlands Province, where Vodafone PNG plans to install transmission gear on an existing Digicel mast.

  • Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG Sign Tower-Sharing Agreement

    Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG Sign Tower-Sharing Agreement

    Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG have signed a tower-sharing agreement to co-locate equipment on suitable tower sites across Papua New Guinea.

    The deal follows Vodafone PNG’s infrastructure-sharing pact with state-owned operator Telikom PNG announced in August, establishing a framework for co-location while allowing both companies to maintain independent network operations.

    Under the agreement, each operator can install equipment on towers owned by the other subject to technical, operational, safety, and commercial requirements as both prepare for 5G deployment.

    Cutting Capital Costs Across Rugged Geography

    Papua New Guinea presents some of the most expensive operating conditions for telecoms in the Pacific. Mountainous terrain, dense rainforests, and isolated population centres drive up the cost of diesel supply, security, and civil works at remote transmission sites.

    Sharing passive infrastructure lets both operators extend rural footprints without pouring duplicate concrete foundations or running separate backhaul links. Digicel PNG Interim Chief Executive Officer Brett Goschen said the arrangement addresses high delivery costs by cutting duplication and speeding network expansion.

    By sharing existing tower infrastructure where appropriate, we can expand network reach faster, reduce duplication and costs, and maximize the value of investments already made across the country.

    Consolidation Across the Pacific Carrier Market

    This bilateral deal mirrors a broader shift across the Asia-Pacific toward asset-light carrier models. Network operators in developing island markets increasingly treat physical towers as shared utilities rather than proprietary competitive moats.

    Faster site sharing cuts rural dead zones for enterprise users, logistics providers, and mobile money operators. The challenge now shifts to operational execution. Teams must coordinate shared site maintenance, resolve generator disputes during grid outages, and allocate mast space when both carriers demand additional antenna positions.

    Building on State Infrastructure Deals

    Vodafone PNG entered the market in 2022 to challenge Digicel’s long-standing footprint and has pushed for shared infrastructure to catch up on nationwide coverage. In August, Vodafone PNG struck an infrastructure-sharing and co-location pact with state-owned operator Telikom PNG to open access to public telecommunications assets.

    That arrangement established the groundwork for wider industry cooperation. Combining access to state-owned masts with Digicel’s extensive private footprint allows Vodafone PNG to expand its coverage map while curtailing capital expenditures.

    Preparing for Commercial 5G Spectrum

    Papua New Guinea’s National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) has finalized its regulatory framework for issuing 5G spectrum licences in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands. Operators are now positioning their shared physical infrastructure to install mid-band 5G antennas as soon as NICTA initiates the formal licence grant process.

  • Papua New Guinea Ready to Issue 5G Licences in 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz Bands

    Papua New Guinea Ready to Issue 5G Licences in 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz Bands

    Papua New Guinea’s National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) is ready to issue 5G spectrum licences in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands to qualified mobile operators.

    The regulator established the framework after completing legal, technical, and market assessments, clearing both frequency bands for concurrent 4G and 5G service rollouts across the country.

    Universal Access and Coverage Obligations

    Licence conditions require operators including Vodafone PNG and Digicel PNG, which completed readiness testing in July, to extend 4G coverage to 20 new sites under the Universal Access and Service Program.

    Under the mandate, carriers cannot confine capital expenditure solely to high-yield cities. Operators must absorb the cost of widening base connectivity across remote provinces while commercialising premium data speeds.

    Carrier Timelines and Network Commitments

    Vodafone PNG pledged to activate 5G services in the National Capital District and at least one additional city within 18 months of licensing. It committed to covering 20 per cent of the national population within 36 months. That expands to 30 per cent within 60 months.

    Digicel PNG confirmed technical preparedness ahead of the awards, completing end-to-end 5G network trials on its existing architecture. Competition between the two operators now shifts toward high-capacity broadband links and enterprise digital connectivity rather than basic voice and mobile data pricing.

    Wider Spectrum and Satellite Reforms

    Planning reviews and technical alignment with international telecommunication standards preceded the release. Digicel established its local network readiness during testing in July. Hardware installation can begin as soon as authorities formally execute the frequency grants.

    Regulators will monitor rollout milestones and enforcement across both assigned bands. Next, the authority will draft allocation policies for additional high-demand spectrum, satellite-delivered non-terrestrial network services, and unlicensed frequency bands for public Wi-Fi infrastructure.