Fiji’s main consumer and telecom regulators are uniting with the Consumer Council of Fiji to tackle widespread telecom grievances, focusing on ensuring fair pricing, reliable internet, and more equitable access across urban, rural, and maritime communities.
The collaboration between the Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF), the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), and the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) follows a nationwide consumer survey earlier this year that exposed significant frustrations with internet services. Consumers highlighted fluctuating prices, unstable connections, slow speeds, and limited access in rural and maritime areas, alongside gaps in customer service and how complaints are handled. The findings suggest deeper, systemic issues hindering consistent digital access nationwide.
The leaders of the three bodies frame this as a practical, accountability-driven effort. Seema Shandil, CEO of the Consumer Council, said internet access is essential for education, business, and social connection, and the joint effort aims to ensure service providers are held accountable, pricing is transparent, and connectivity is reliable so Fijians get real value for their money. Telecommunications Authority of Fiji CEO Prit Chand echoed the sentiment, underscoring the regulator’s duty to ensure providers deliver what they promise and to secure fair value for consumers. FCCC CEO Senikavika Jiuta stressed the importance of transparent and competitive pricing while protecting consumers from unfair treatment. Together, the agencies say the collaboration is the start of a sustained push to improve digital services across the country.
This initiative comes at a time when regulators in Fiji and the wider Pacific region are discussing concrete steps to boost connectivity, including the potential benefits of open access networks and shared infrastructure to foster price competition and expand last‑mile coverage. The move also aligns with broader digital-regulation trends aimed at balancing investment incentives with strong consumer protections, particularly in rural and maritime communities where access has lagged.
For consumers, the immediate implications include clearer pricing practices, stronger protection against unfair billing or service terms, and improved mechanisms for timely redress of complaints. The collaboration will also target better service reliability and more consistent experiences for households relying on internet for education, health, business, and staying connected with loved ones.
Industry context often notes that a combination of fibre, wireless, and satellite approaches, guided by enforceable performance standards, can enhance resilience—an objective echoed in regional digital plans and discussions about universal service areas. With the FCCC and TAF intensifying market surveillance and consumer protections in related sectors, the new alliance aims to translate regulatory intent into tangible improvements for users and a fairer, more transparent market overall.
What to watch next:
– Potential updates to pricing standards and clearer disclosure requirements from providers.
– Enhanced complaint-handling procedures and faster resolution timelines for internet and telecom grievances.
– Expanded efforts to improve rural and maritime connectivity, including targeted investments or partnerships.
– Ongoing regulator-led reviews of market practices to ensure benefits of digital growth reach everyday Fiji households.
Overall, the alliance signals an optimistic push toward more reliable internet access and fairer pricing, reinforcing Fiji’s commitment to inclusive digital growth that supports education, commerce, and everyday life. If these reforms are effectively implemented, households and businesses across Fiji could experience faster, more affordable, and more dependable connectivity in the years ahead.
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