Prime Minister, James Marape yesterday signaled decisive reforms for Telikom PNG, calling for renewed private sector participation, improved commercial discipline, and faster adaptation to global technological change.
Speaking after a detailed presentation by Telikom PNG Chief Executive Officer Amos Tepi, the Prime Minister expressed concern that Telikom’s market position has continued to weaken despite decades of state ownership and repeated reform efforts.
“Fifty years is a long time. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results,” Prime Minister Marape said, noting that Telikom’s market share has fallen to about 50 per cent while competitors that entered the market for later have rapidly expanded.
Prime Minister Marape said Government must now take a hard, honest look at the company’s structure and performance, including progressing a partial privatization pathway that brings in experienced global telecommunications operators.
“If there is space for partial privatization, then we must go down that path. We need partners who know how to run a telco business — not just own shares, but manage networks, technology, pricing and customer experience,” he said.
The Prime Minister directed senior officials to immediately begin work on a new prospectus to test market interest, including international operators from Asia, Australia, the Middle East and beyond.
“Our 51 per cent stake can be protected, but management and technical expertise must be brought in. Let us test the market fairly and transparently and see what value can be unlocked,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape warned that Papua New Guinea risks falling further behind if it does not urgently align its ICT sector with global technological trends, including artificial intelligence, satellite connectivity and next-generation data infrastructure.
“The world is moving at lightning speed. AI, satellite technology and digital platforms are already shaping economies ten to twenty years ahead of us. PNG cannot afford to think ten years behind,” he said.
He highlighted the State’s significant investment in national fiber and data infrastructure and questioned whether these assets are delivering sufficient commercial and service returns.
“We invested close to a billion kina in backbone infrastructure. The question now is: are we fully utilizing it, and is it delivering value to Government and customers?” he said.
The Prime Minister welcomed Telikom’s ongoing discussions with satellite providers, including Starlink and other global operators, saying PNG must remain technology-neutral and focused on reliability and affordability.
“Whether it is fiber or satellite does not matter. What matters is reliable connectivity, competitive pricing and nationwide reach,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape thanked Telikom PNG management for the presentation and confirmed that further discussions would follow at Cabinet and shareholder level.
“This is not a final decision. It is a serious conversation that must now be processed properly, transparently and decisively,” the Prime Minister said.