BY MORRIS NAFU
The Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI) has stepped up in response to Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale and the public about rising mobile data costs, after talks with Our Telekom, B-Mobile and other stakeholders.
In a recent statement, TCSI recognised the outcry sparked by the Opposition Leader Matthew Wale and the general public.
The commission stressed that these complaints are being taken seriously under its watch.
Wale had pushed hard for TCSI to scrutinise the latest data bundle tweaks rolled out by Our Telekom.
“Telecoms are a must-have for growing our economy, so the services and prices on offer to customers should stay fair and low-cost.
“I’m urging the commission to take a close look at these new changes,” he said.
Wale argued that TCSI needs to probe Our Telekom’s selling tactics to stop the market giant from squeezing customers and the wider community.
He highlighted how real rivalry in the sector could drive down costs and boost reliable services – not jack them up.
Wale also pointed out that while it’s great news Our Telekom handed over $45 million to the National Provident Fund (NPF), that windfall shouldn’t hit ordinary users in the pocket.
He warned that letting a big operator rake in fat profits amid low service, without any regulatory push, just encourages more of the same old story.
In response to the pressure, TCSI steps into action as laid out in the Telecommunications Act 2009. The body pointed to Sections 69 and 70, which steer its grip on pricing matters.
“Section 69 demands that companies spell out prices clearly and upfront, and Section 70 sets up a fair way to regulate based on solid proof, weighing social needs, economic realities, and even remote area challenges,” TCSI explained.
To set things straight, the commission noted that data bundles are like seasonal specials – shaped by each provider’s strategy, expenses, and what’s hot in the market.
Even though many feel Our Telekom’s updates are a rip-off, the per-unit data cost still stacks up pretty even with B-Mobile and the rest.
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