Progress on Papua New Guinea’s national broadband network

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Construction of Papua New Guinea’s national broadband network is progressing, with major milestones set be reached by mid 2015, according to technology consultant Sundar Ramamurthy, who is assisting the PNG government’s Independent Public Business Corporation on the project.

In brief: new Petroleum Minister, Oil Search bond buyback and other stories

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PNG’s new Petroleum Minister, officials in Abu Dhabi to negotiate Oil Search bond buyback, and the cost of Manus Detention Centre detailed. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Memoir: Exporting along the Kokoda Trail

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Three years ago, ‘Airport Economist’ Tim Harcourt came to Papua New Guinea to see how it was coping after the global financial crisis. In this excerpt from his forthcoming book, Trading Places – The Airport Economist’s Guide to International Business, he reflects on what he found.

Telikom Papua New Guinea rings the changes

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Telikom PNG is upgrading and expanding its network, after earlier this month signing a K600 million (US$200 million) deal with Chinese technology provider Huawei. Chairman Mahesh Patel outlines where the money will be spent and commits the state-owned telco to improving its customer service.

Analysis: the shape of things to come in digital marketing

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From a Papua New Guinea perspective, the most striking thing about attending Australia’s major annual media and marketing conference last week was the irrelevance of so much of the content, writes Robert Hamilton-Jones.

BSP launches its own mobile wallet

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Papua New Guinea’s largest bank, BSP, has joined PNG’s growing mobile wallet market, with the launch last week of Wantok Moni.

Takeovers lead to consolidation in Papua New Guinea satellite market

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Late last month, Hong Kong-based satellite communications company Speedcast bought Australian satellite company Pactel International, and in a little-publicised deal, Digicel PNG purchased the country’s home-grown satellite company, Remington Communications, from the larger Remington group.

Vodafone Bemobile to boost mobile phone competition

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Mobile phone competition in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands is about to get tougher, after a deal which will see about US$250m (K550 million) in new funding for PNG’s second carrier, BeMobile, which will see it relaunched as Vodafone BeMobile.

How smart is your smartphone?

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With 3G and wireless broadband data services increasingly more commonplace in Papua New Guinea and the region, smartphones are gaining a hold in the market. This follows a global trend: according to technology analysts Gartner Inc, smartphone sales grew by 38.3% in 2012, while overall mobile phone sales actually fell 1.7%—the first fall since 2009. Up […]

BSP’s Ian B Clyne: Technology is the key

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BSP, PNG’s largest bank, is being recognised globally as a major innovator with mobile technology. In our exclusive interview, Group CEO Ian B Clyne reflects on a momentous year for the bank and its plans for future growth. Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): I gather BSP opened a record number of new accounts last year. How […]