Digicel PNG, the largest mobile phone service provider may be switching from GPRS to 3G mobile technology. Several sources have confirmed that the mobile company has been upgrading its network infrastructure to roll out the 3G network.
This is great news for internet junkies in Papua New Guinea who have had to cope with the inflated prices and constipated download rates of the State-owned monopoly Telikom PNG. Telikom PNG is currently providing 3G and 4G wireless internet services at a cost of K750 for 500 megabytes.
Current users of Digicel’s GPRS internet modem have noted phenomenal download speeds. @Walkan Toviran tweeted regarding the Digicel internet connection, “I am downloading at a phenomenal rate well its fast real fast...The connection status used to be GPRS or EDGE on my modem status bar is now UMTS or HSPA”
The entry of Digicel into the mobile phone market saw prices drop as it outwitted the monopoly of Bee Mobile a subsidiary of Telikom PNG. The entry of Digicel into broadband wireless internet should also see prices plummet.
Papua New Guineans who have had to put up with Telikom's high rates and poor service will have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of competition.
With the elections just around the corner, affordable and accessible broadband internet also provides the opportunity to connect with the voters via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. There are already, thousands of Papua New Guineans who use these sites.
Hey Martin, thanks for the mention.
ReplyDeleteI normally use Orbit as a download manager. I was downloading a 8MB software through Digicel which I thought would take a couple of minutes.
But I was surprised when I looked away from the screen for just a moment and the file download was complete.
I must say I am impressed with the bigger better network.
What is your come back Bmobile/Telikom?