An investigation into Fiji’s Walesi Digital TV project has revealed significant mismanagement and questionable practices over the years 2015 to 2022. During a parliamentary session, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, reported that approximately 68 percent of the FJ$123 million allocated to the project was deemed wasteful. This finding has raised serious concerns regarding accountability, given that auditors discovered missing documentation for payments totaling FJ$9.3 million.
The investigation highlighted that high-value contracts, including a FJ$3.6 million project management deal, were awarded without competitive bidding or well-defined deliverables. Furthermore, the Walesi initiative operated without key strategic tools, such as a coherent risk management plan or a contract register, and it did not comply with the oversight measures established by Fiji’s Public Enterprises Act.
Technical assessments conducted with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) found that Walesi had failed to secure necessary operating and spectrum licenses and adopted a less efficient Multi-Frequency Network (MFN) instead of the recommended Single Frequency Network (SFN). This misstep, compounded by a poor technology choice—using the outdated H.264 codec rather than the more current H.265—resulted in over 200,000 set-top boxes being rendered obsolete at taxpayer expense.
Kamikamica assured that the findings would be submitted to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that any detected abuse or fraudulent activities would face strict legal consequences. In light of these issues, a reform plan is already in motion, focusing on enhancing governance within Walesi. This includes revising encryption policies to eliminate connection fees to the digital platform and updating licensing practices to conform with international standards.
Despite the serious implications of the report, there is optimism surrounding the future of the Walesi project. The government plans to establish a transparent fee structure and revise the Telecommunications Act to generate sustainable revenue for operations, thereby reducing the financial burden on taxpayers.
In response to the revelations, Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the findings were presented, highlighting the benefits of the Walesi project, which has successfully provided a free digital television service to 90 percent of Fijians by March 2023. Aliki Bia of Bloc 9 Group acknowledged the findings and looked forward to meaningful progress in the investigation.
Overall, while the findings of mismanagement in the Walesi project are troubling, the government’s response with a focused reform plan and commitment to transparency presents a hopeful path for the future of digital broadcasting in Fiji.
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