Vodafone Fiji

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Fiji Vodaphone was a joint venture between Vodaphone of the UK (49%) and the state-owned Fiji Post & Telecommunications (FPTL- 51%). The company owned the exclusive rights for the operations of the GSM network in the island as a subsidiary of national operator Telecom Fiji. Vodafone was to manage the company. The initial investment in the network was US$21 million and the company started its commercial operations in July 1994. The equipment was delivered by Ericcson. In March 1998, the government's shares of Vodafone Fiji, Fintel and Telecom Fiji merged to create an umbrella "super monopoly" - Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH). ATH was set up by the Fijian government to combine its investments in the three telecom providers, making it one of the biggest companies in Fiji. ATH thus became the holding company of Telecom Fiji and became the vehicle for privatization of the telecommunications industry. The government controled 51% of Vodafone Fiji and ATH thus controlled the rights to the government's holding. On 16 December 1998 the government sold 49% of its shares in Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited to the state-owned Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), followed in September 1999 by sale of a further 2% to give FNPF controlling interest in ATH. The Fiji National Provident Fund was a statutory national compulsory savings plan. ATH was formally listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE) on 18 April 2002. The government then held an effective 25% stake in Vodafone Fiji. As of end 2005, Vodafone Fiji had about 200,000 subscribers. There were 97 radio base stations around the country in all the urban centres, along highways and in several rural locations. Vodafone reported that it had invested approximately US$85 million in its infrastructure since 1994 and intended to invest a further US$100 million in infrastructure within the following 5 years. Also in 2005, it announced it would build a 3G network. In February 2006, Vodafone Fiji announced plans to spend US$49.82 million to upgrade its mobile network to 3G. Ericsson of Sweden was responsible for the project. In November 2007, the Fiji interim government passed a New Telecommunications Bill that fully deregulated Fiji's telecom sector. The New Bill effectively ends the exclusive privileges granted to Telecom Fiji, Fintel and Vodafone Fiji. In May 2008, ATH, a telecommunications holding company, has acquired a 51% stake in Vodafone Fiji Limited, a provider of mobile telephony services, from Telecom Fiji Ltd., a provider of local and national (trunk) telephony services. Capex 2009-2013: Wireless Intelligence For 2008 Vodafone Fiji expected to spend 33million to further upgrade and extend its mobile network to reach 90% coverage before the end of next year. Source: ATH Group Annual Report 2007