The Regional Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Fiji, Pradeep Lal says they will consider buying Digicel’s operations in Nauru and Tonga if it brings value for their shareholders however the regulators will not allow them to buy operations in other countries like Fiji to prevent a monopoly.
Lal says they are in acquisition mode as Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited has been expanding in the Pacific in the last few years and they will expand further if there are opportunities.
Reports have emerged that Digicel is considering selling its Pacific operations.
When asked whether Vodafone Fiji will also consider buying Digicel’s operations in Fiji and are in negotiations, Lal says the regulator will not allow them.
Lal says the regulator would not want to create a monopoly in Fiji as currently there are two operators in the market.
Digicel is yet to comment on reports that they are considering selling their Pacific operations. A spokesman for Digicel confirmed to the Irish Times that it has “received approaches from a number of parties in respect of its Pacific operations”. The company's Pacific operations is reportedly worth $2 billion.
The Australian Financial Review has also reported that several Chinese entities, including China Mobile, Huawei and ZTE are considering buying Digicel’s Pacific operations which includes the company’s business in Papua New Guinea as well as Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and Nauru.
We have sent questions to Digicel about these reports.
They are yet to comment.
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