Caption: Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang
presenting the dummy cheque to NBD MD Memafu Kapera.
By
MATTHEW VARI
THE open district of Kandrian-Gloucester has paid K2 million to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as part of a pilot project to roll out communication relay towers to roll telecommunication signals throughout the entire district.
As part of the pilot, a total of three 45 meter towers will be built along with the necessary facilities to run radio, television, and data services to the people to give a 100 percent coverage rate of the district.
In the pilot arrangement NBC is set to begin construction of the three towers which will be owned by the district and operated to invite other telecommunication operators to mount their receivers to enable content and choice to the people of the district.
The K2 million given is 60 percent of the total cost of the project of K3.5 million which will be pain upon completion of the project.
Each tower will be equipped with power supply, fencing and housing unit for the tower receiver equipment.
Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang said that he was proud that his district was now undertaking the project to address many of the black spots in his district that were not able ot receive any signals from the current number of towers erected by mobile communication provider.
“As the local MP from Kandrian-Gloucester representing my people, we’ve decided to address this particular problem, because in my electorate there are large black spots where people cannot get access to communication signals despite the towers set up there.”
“I am proud to stand in front of the people of this country to say that yes we do have problems but we are going to address it by starting with the signing of this MoA (Memorandum of Agreement),” Mr Lelang said.
Mr Lelang, a former departmental head, also said that the move was in line also with the government national development plan to have a 100 percentage coverage rate of radio signals for the entire country.
“The 2010 to 2030 Papua New Guinean Strategic National Development Plan says that in the next 20 years radio services must reach 100 percent of the population,” the former National Planning Secretary said.
“In my area it is probably 90 percent do not have access to radio services, because we just don’t have the towers to relay those signals down.”
“People just don’t have information on what is happening around the country, and imagining the kind of society where you and I do not know what is happening around us.”
The towers will also be accessing data transmission services like the internet to assist run the district government, the health installations, and high schools, apart from the revenues generated through the towers fee paid by service providers.
Television operators, radio, and data communication provider are invited to hook up to the towers and take advantage of the business opportunity.
NBC Managing Director Memafu Kapera emphasized that the national broadcaster was willing and waiting for other MPs to take a similar approach where they have ownership of the towers where both the district and landowners are the winners in the end.
“Communication is fast improving and changing the lifestyles of our people across the country most importantly the rural places where most of our people live,” Kapera said.
“This is the first time this concept has been launched- it will branch out to other areas with other Members of Parliament and also ministers of government to take part.”
He added that the arrangement also address a vital issue which was the benefits to the landowners concerned.
“At the end of the day when landowners issues are raised they burn down towers, cables, and facilities around the towers,” he said.
“Towers provided in other areas around the country have been sabotaged and burnt down.”
“We are trying to initiate a concept where there and then the issues of the landowners will be addressed by the districts.”
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