During a recent session in Parliament, Fiji’s Minister for Communication, Manoa Kamikamica, disclosed that Walesi Fiji has been operating without the required licenses. The findings stem from a Technical Assessment of the country’s Digital Television Transmission Setup.
Minister Kamikamica emphasized that Walesi’s failure to obtain the necessary operating and spectrum licenses poses significant risks, particularly affecting vital services such as civil aviation. He criticized the company’s lack of compliance with essential international telecommunication standards, attributing this situation to poor oversight and planning.
He further pointed out that Walesi’s approach to free-to-air content and technological choices, such as opting for the outdated H.264 codec instead of the globally recognized H.265/HEVC codec, has hindered the network’s effectiveness. This decision resulted in more than 200,000 set-top boxes being distributed at a considerable public expense, ultimately leading to wasted resources as the devices are now obsolete.
The assessment also revealed a lack of a sustainable operational framework for Walesi, including absent structured revenue models and strategies for pricing the services used by broadcasters. This oversight reflects a fundamental lack of foresight and planning for long-term infrastructure maintenance.
While these findings may seem concerning, they also provide an opportunity for significant improvements in Fiji’s digital television landscape. With the identification of these issues, there is potential for reform and enhancement of the services provided by Walesi Fiji, which could ultimately benefit households across the nation through better technology and more reliable broadcasts.
In summary, the situation with Walesi Fiji highlights critical gaps in regulatory compliance and strategic planning, but it also opens the door for robust reforms that could improve digital television services in Fiji moving forward.
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