Telikom PNG signs master procurement agreement with Fujitsu Australia Limited

Telikom PNG, the national provider of telecommunications services in Papua New Guinea, today announced that it has signed a five-year master procurement agreement with Fujitsu Australia Limited for the provision of digital trunk radio systems and corporate IT infrastructure and services. The agreement, the first signed by Telikom PNG as part of a K1.4 billion (US$500 million) expansion and upgrade of its telecoms network, will see Fujitsu become a major supplier and partner to Papua New Guinea’s primary telecommunications service provider.

The first project which Fujitsu is likely to manage under the agreement is the implementation of a new digital trunk system from Lae to Kimbe and on to Tomavatua (a radio path distance of 768 kms) in the New Guinea Islands region. This implementation will allow the introduction of new digital services along a route which is presently served by a long-standing analogue system.

This project is likely to be followed by a phased upgrading of the trunk radio network linking major centres including Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka , Madang and Mount Hagen, followed by Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo, Kavieng, Alotau, Buka and Arawa. The new trunk radio network will bring improved reliability to these areas and enable improvements to mobile, voice and internet services.

David Waterhouse, CEO, Telikom PNG said “The upgrades are part of an extensive network modernisation and replacement program by Telikom PNG, which will allow us to introduce new and extended mobile phone services, improved internet access and upgraded voice and data services to individual and corporate customers. We are very pleased to have Fujitsu on board for this important milestone in the history of our organisation.”

In addition to the supply of digital trunk radio systems, Fujitsu will also provide a new corporate IT infrastructure for Telikom PNG which will include the supply of third party equipment from vendors such as Cisco, IBM, HP and Microsoft. Fujitsu will work with the Telikom management team to provide world-class IT and back office solutions for the business.

The agreement with Fujitsu follows a worldwide tender process initiated by Telikom PNG in 2006, which is likely to produce agreements for a wide range of network equipment and implementation services over the coming months. One hundred potential suppliers were canvassed during the RFP process, resulting in negotiations with fifty, and a final set of five contracts with eminent global suppliers, including Fujitsu.

Fujitsu has a demonstrable track record in the Pacific region, where it can count SamoaTel and Telecom Fiji amongst its customers.

Rod Vawdrey, CEO, Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand said, “Fujitsu is proud to be associated with Telikom PNG as it embarks on this major initiative, which we believe will directly influence the day-to-day lives and standard of living for the citizens of Papua New Guinea. We believe that Telikom PNG’s Next Generation Network will boost foreign investment and the economy in general and are looking forward to making this dream a reality.”