Wireless Networks

Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG agree to share tower infrastructure

Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG agree to share tower infrastructure

Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG announced on Tuesday they have signed a tower sharing licence agreement that will enable both telcos to share tower infrastructure across Papua New Guinea.

Under the partnership deal, Digicel and Vodafone will be able to install equipment on suitable tower sites owned by either telco, subject to technical, operational, safety and commercial requirements.

The framework establishes a consistent process for co-location while allowing each company to maintain independent network operations, while also making network expansion more efficient for both telcos, said Digicel PNG interim CEO Brett Goschen

“This agreement is a practical step towards delivering better outcomes by overcoming the many costly challenges that mobile network operators face in delivering mobile and ICT services in PNG,” Goschen said in a statement. “By sharing existing tower infrastructure where appropriate, we can expand network reach faster, reduce duplication and costs and maximise the value of investments already made across the country.”

Vodafone PNG’s regional CEO Pradeep Lal, said the partnership provides an opportunity to make greater use of existing infrastructure and support the continued expansion of mobile services across the country. “For Vodafone PNG, the agreement complements our ongoing investment in network coverage, capacity and customer experience.”

Vodafone PNG signed a infrastructure sharing and co-location agreement with state-owned telco Telikom PNG late last month.

The infrastructure sharing agreements are expected to help expedite rollouts of 5G services across Papua New Guinea, which Digicel and Vodafone have been preparing for over the last couple of years.

Papua New Guinea’s National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) announced last Friday that it’s finalised its framework to issue 5G spectrum licences in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands.



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