Taiwan cash helps Solomons telecom plan

Last Updated: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:37:00 +1100

Taiwan's ambassador to Solomon Islands says a million-dollar cash donation will help the Honiara government break a monopoly in the telecommunications industry.

The Solomon Islands government was required to pay telecommunication industry leader Our Telekom $US15 million to relinquish its monopoly on the local industry.

The government needed to pay at least $3.2 million last Friday, and Taiwan paid more than $1 million of it.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua says the payment allows for a special committee to deliberate on investor applications in the telecommunication industry.

Taiwanese ambassador George Chan has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the government's policy to break Our Telekom's monopoly is good.

"I think it's known to everyone that this country needs to free up the telecommunications service," he said.

"Of course Telekom is doing its best, but still I think in the modern market . . . if you have competition, the people will have a better service."

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