CEO’s Speech – WiFi Launch
13th November, 2015
Grand Pacific Hotel
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The Honorable Prime Minister of Fiji – Mr. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama

Cabinet Ministers
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Members of the Diplomatic Corp

Telecom Fiji Chairman Mr. Tom Rickets and Respective Board Members

Invited Guests

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula Vinaka and Good Evening!
It gives me immense pleasure in welcoming you all to another groundbreaking Telecom Fiji
Launch. Today we are unveiling Fiji’s largest WiFi network with a game changing suite of
applications built around WiFi extending the domains of TFL’s Connect Broadband services. I
thank the Hon Prime Minister, Ministers and distinguished guests for being with us today despite
your busy schedules.
Ladies and Gentlemen I must say that Fiji is fortunate to have a Prime Minister who not only
paints a compelling vision but has the personal leadership and drive to convert his Governments
vision into a reality. Sir, your presence here this evening is a testament of that commitment and
support your Government has towards the Telecommunication sector and we at TFL are fully
aligned to your vision of building a “Digital Fiji” covering even far flung corners of Fiji. I must
take this opportunity to thank you and the Minister for Telecom Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for
supporting our efforts.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to say, that Telecom Fiji Limited has successfully secured
more than hundred and fifty sites that are now active Connect WiFi Hotspot Zones. In addition
to 150 public Wi-Fi sites, TFL had successfully rolled out nearly 200 hot spots in multiple leading
hotels across Fiji. Currently Connect Public WiFi Zones are mostly spread across the Central and
Western Divisions. However, we are in the process of covering the whole of Fiji soon. TFL
deployed these sites on a ripple strategy and under the 1st wave, we have extended coverage to
include number of key public hot spots in parks, bus stands, shopping centers, banks and
hospitals. We will announce the new service areas as soon as they are ready.
Empowering Fijians
Ladies and Gentleman TFL WiFi and allied services built around WiFi will revolutionize the way
Fijians communicate, interact and transact each other. Most importantly, these services are going
to be key building blocks in Fiji’s Digital Empowerment. TFL’s vision of having complimentary
access technologies such as WiFi, ADSL, VDSL, FTTH, Fixed Wireless and having a Unified
approach to Technology rollout will help to create a digitally empowered nation, transcending
social and economic barriers.
We offer an economical communication solution to public, WiFi day pass for just $2.0 and a week
pass for just $5.0 bundle unlimited data. Our Fixed Line customers can use their Connect account
to access WiFi internet without paying any additional $s under Unify access agnostic services
introduced in 2014 to provide limited mobility to our Fixed customers. The benefits of having
Public Wi-Fi at a reasonable cost will be intrinsic to the mode of operation of a Millennial Youth,
Student, Travelling Businessman, Patient admitted to a hospital or a Foreign Tourist. Now they
can search closest restaurant or cloth shop, send or receive emails or complete study assignments
while on the move thanks to cost effective WiFi offered by TFL. They can even take a free call or
send a free text at the Connect Wi-Fi Zone if TFL Talanoa android app is installed in the device.
In near future a tourist can find promotional offers for closest hotels or city restaurants while
browsing in a hot spot thanks to the Ad – injection services introduced by us. Before end of this
year Tourist in the region can enjoy TFL WiFi roaming facility using their home accounts. Now
they can research local attractions, look up local events, load maps, post photos/ videos to
Instagram. Undoubtedly these services will help boosting the tourism industry.
Businesses can also get benefitted by Wi-Fi related services like Location Based Ad – injection or
to connect FPOSS terminals more economically.
Thanking Partners
Ladies and gentlemen there are many I would like to thank for the introduction of these landmark
services. First and Foremost TFL staff who worked tirelessly in the past few months to acquire
new sites, signed contracts with the site owners, providing fiber or microwave Backhaul to each
access points, installation and testing of access points, setting up the Network Management
System, Developing multiple apps around WiFi like Unify, Day/Week passes, Talanoa Android
App, Ad – injection, WiFi Roaming etc. and Marketing and Sales teams for introducing WiFi
services innovatively to the market. These young set of Engineers and Executives showed the
power of Fijian talents and TFL is really proud of them. They will do wonders.
I also would like to thank our Technology partners Ruckus for offering us a cost effective solution
on par with the best of the world and site owners who consented to share their properties with
TFL.
I am also grateful for Chairman Mr. Tom Rickets, ATH Chairman Mr. Ajith Kodagoda and Board
of Directors for their unstinting support and encouragement.
Future
We strongly believe that Fiji can be the Telecommunication Hub in Pacific. TFL will forge a path
that make Fijians are empowered digitally. To do this we definitely need a collaborative effort
across Industry and Government. We are in the right track.
As a leading ICT solutions provider in Fiji, Telecom Fiji is not only introducing latest in technology
for the benefit and empowerment of the local Fijian people, but also collaborating with
Government and other stakeholders to promote Fiji as a Tourist destination and as a destination
of choice for ICT related investments like Call Centers and BPOs.
Ladies and Gentlemen, TFL’s WiFi product suite will be presented to you tonight by the rest of
my team in detail. Please stay tuned. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all once again
for accepting our invitation and I wish you all a very pleasant evening.
Vinaka Vakalevu.