The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a PGK87 million (USD25.4 million) investment in Digitec Communications (PNG), which is majority-owned by ATH International Venture Limited (ATHIV), a subsidiary of Fiji’s Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH). The monies have been granted to build out a greenfield 4G mobile network in Papua New Guinea which is expected to enhance mobile, broadband and internet services in the country, while opening new opportunities for job creation and socio-economic growth. TeleGeography notes that in May 2019 Fiji-based ATH announced that, through wholly owned Singapore-incorporated subsidiary ATHIV, it had struck a deal to acquire 70% shareholdings in Digitec Communications (PNG).
Commenting on the development, ABD infrastructure finance division director Jackie B Surtani was quoted as saying: ‘This investment demonstrates our continued efforts to deliver essential and affordable infrastructure services to the people of PNG … Improved mobile services in PNG will increase domestic and regional connectivity and serve as a powerful access tool for other sectors of the economy such as telemedicine, education, and banking.’