Australia’s Telstra has been cleared to acquire Digicel Fiji by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC).
In October 2021, Telstra announced that it would partner with the Australian government on an indirect acquisition of Digicel Pacific – covering the operator’s units in Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu – for AUD2.1 billion (US$1.6 billion).
At the time, the operator described the agreement as “a unique and very attractive commercial opportunity for Telstra to boost [its] presence in the region”, noting that it would liaise with the relevant governments to discuss approvals and regulatory requirements.
Following an investigation of the proposal, FCCC chief executive officer Joel Abraham told the Fiji Village newspaper that the regulator “approved the transaction today (3 March), subject to certain conditions which will help FCCC monitor the market more effectively.”
He noted: “FCCC exists to promote effective competition and an informed market, encourage fair trade in markets and protect customers and businesses from restrictive practices … We assess every application with that in mind and only grant approvals when a proposed transaction is in line with those values.”
