Photo Credit: PNG Marketing Magazine - Paul Komboi
Retail internet rates would be decreased by around 50% by the end of next year, according to Dataco PNG Ltd chief executive officer Paul Komboi.
Wholesale prices had already been slashed by nearly 40%, he said at an investment conference.
However, due to market competition, it was not cut at the retail level.
“I hope in 2022, we will see at least a 50 per cent reduction in the retail price, and I can guarantee you that,” Komboi said.
“I think the market will move very fast and it will be very aggressive.
“Vodafone is coming in at the end of this year and one of the challenges we see is that a drop in the wholesale price is not being passed to the end-user.
“Either the market will force that to happen or we will see the regulator stepping in.
“We know that Telstar is also coming on board if everything goes well after their final assessment and due diligence. They will also create different dynamics in the marketplace to continue to put pressure on reducing the price of services offered to the people.”
Because of the retail market's rivalry, the reduction was not felt by end-users, according to Komboi.
“But there is an uptake by the usage of mobile phones by other carriers that are out there now,” Komboi said.
“It means that there is competition in the marketplace.
“Once Vodafone comes in, that will add on to that competition and continue a reduction in pricing.
“That’s when customers will win.”
Reference: The National (11 September 2021). “Internet price to drop by 50pc’”.
