Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

American company to run second mobile phone service in Solomon Islands

Posted at 03:45 on 14 December, 2009 UTC

An American company has won the bid to provide a competing mobile telephone service in Solomon Islands.

Under the previous Telecommunications Act the market was limited to a single operator, but Parliament passed legislation in August to end this monopoly.

Be-Mobile beat two other foreign companies to secure the tender.

The other bidders were mobile giant Digicel, which is already established in several Pacific markets, and Milestone Developments.

A Evaluation Committee, appointed by the Government to scrutinise the bids, announced the winner at the weekend, though its recommendation still has to be endorsed by Cabinet.