Walesi Fiji’s Illegal Operations Exposed: What It Means for Fijians?

During a recent session in Parliament, Fiji’s Minister for Communication, Manoa Kamikamica, revealed alarming findings regarding Walesi Fiji’s operations, indicating that the company has been functioning without the required licenses. The minister emphasized that Walesi Fiji failed to obtain essential operational and spectrum licenses, which not only poses threats to critical services such as civil aviation but also signifies a lack of oversight and negligence in adhering to international telecommunications standards.

Kamikamica pointed out that Walesi’s policies concerning free-to-air content, along with inadequate network design and technology decisions, have negatively impacted Fijian households. Notably, the choice to use the outdated H.264 codec, despite global recommendations in 2016 advocating for a transition to the more efficient H.265/HEVC codec, has resulted in more than 200,000 set-top boxes being distributed at great public expense becoming obsolete from the outset. This decision raises concerns about wasted public funds that could have been better allocated elsewhere.

Furthermore, the review of Walesi’s operations underscored the lack of a sustainable framework, highlighting the absence of a structured revenue model, strategic pricing for broadcasters, and a long-term infrastructure maintenance plan. This oversight indicates a critical failure to address the future needs of the network and its users.

While the current situation is concerning, it provides an opportunity for the government and stakeholders to reevaluate and enhance the framework for telecommunications in Fiji. By addressing these issues, they can take steps towards not only compliance but also to improve service delivery for the benefit of all Fijians.

In summary, the Minister’s statements reveal serious operational deficiencies within Walesi Fiji but also underscore the potential for positive change and improvement in the regulatory landscape of telecommunications in the country. With corrective measures, Fiji can ensure better services and infrastructure for its citizens.