Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG sign tower-sharing deal

TL;DR: Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG said on Tuesday that they signed a tower sharing licence agreement covering Papua New Guinea. The deal allows both operators to install equipment on suitable tower sites owned by either company, subject to technical, operational, safety and commercial requirements.

Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG said on Tuesday that they signed a tower sharing licence agreement that will let both operators share tower infrastructure across Papua New Guinea.

Under the agreement, Digicel PNG and Vodafone PNG can install equipment on suitable tower sites owned by either operator. The arrangement sets a common process for co-location while each company keeps independent network operations.

Digicel PNG interim CEO Brett Goschen said the agreement is intended to reduce duplication and costs and help expand network reach faster across Papua New Guinea. Vodafone PNG regional CEO Pradeep Lal said the deal supports greater use of existing infrastructure and the continued expansion of mobile services.

Vodafone PNG also signed an infrastructure sharing and co-location agreement with state-owned Telikom PNG late last month. The new infrastructure sharing agreements are expected to support faster 5G rollouts in Papua New Guinea after the National Information and Communications Technology Authority finalised its framework last Friday to issue 5G spectrum licences in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands.