Deregulation and investing in appropriate technology is one reason why Fiji may be one step ahead in providing faster and more efficient internet services.
For the three firms that are providing high-powered internet service in Fiji using the latest WiMAX system, they have injected F$2.6 million into the economy to ensure the infrastructure is in place.
WiMAX (stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of transmission modes, from point-to-multipoint links to portable and fully mobile internet access.
It has been described as “a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL”.
According to the WiMAX Forum Interactive Deployment map, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand are still listed as having the 802.16d network. Only Australia in the Pacific is working on installing WiMAX 802.16e.
However, Unwired Fiji, a Fijian telecom company, has decided to go with Motorola for its network expansion. Motorola will deploy its end-to-end 802.16e-based WiMAX network enabling Unwired Fiji to offer advanced broadband services.
“It is a challenge for us to provide reliable and superior telecommunications services cost effectively in Fiji, where the population density is low,” said William Parkinson, chief executive officer of Unwired Fiji.
“Motorola’s scalable WiMAX solution provides us with a network upgrade path.”
Unwired Fiji will use the new WiMAX network to offer high-speed Internet access services to a broad range of consumers and business users. The new wireless technology will also allow the operator to provide true mobile broadband services in the next phase of development.
Users will be able to experience video on mobile devices and enjoy other media rich applications while they are on the move, realising the personal wireless broadband vision in Fiji, says Motorola.
 “I think the Pacific has begun to realise like PNG the benefits of deregulation,” Sundar Ramamurthy said.
Ramamurthy, General Manager of PNG internet company Data Nets Limited, is Parkinson’s business partner, and  with Motorola mobile company are behind this new initiative.
“People have to realise the power of competition. We did not have competition in PNG with mobile phones until two years ago.  And now with competition, mobile users have increased, infact they now have a choice of joining either Digicel or B-Mobile or both. 
“You create competition by creating a level playing field so entrepreneurs can take advantage of competition.”
Unwired Fiji will be one of the first ISPs in the Australasian/Pacific region to deliver a full 802.16e based WiMAX network, Parkinson said.
“For us here at Unwired, this was a necessary move. We really had to move to the next generation. We would have preferred to have done it in a better economic environment.But I don’t think you can really pick those particularly with a project like this one.
“That is the decision we have made. We have worked hard here at Unwired to run a very cost efficient organisation.
 “Fiji is very favourably positioned and that is going to offer us a whole lot of new opportunities as a nation and we want to be at the forefront.”