Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has urged the Telecommunication’s Commission to review the recent changes in data plans recently effected by Our Telekom.

Wale made the call in response to an article published recently in the Island Sun updating customers and the general public on the company’s new service changes for public use.

“Telecommunication is an essential necessity for economic development hence products and prices provided to the public must always be kept reasonably cheap. I am calling on the Telecommunication Commission to review these recent changes,” he said.

Wale said as a regulator, the Commission must look into Telekom’s sales and marketing strategy to ensure that Telekom as a dominant player in the industry is not abusing its position to the disadvantage of its customers and the general public.  

He said the public needs competition to lead to reductions in product prices and efficient service delivery and not the opposite.

“Whilst it is welcoming news that Telekom has contributed $45m to NPF. It is equally important also that this does not come at the expense of its customers and the general public,” he said. 

The Opposition Leader said high profits by a dominant market player with consistent poor services that does not attract regulatory attention is an incentive for continuing with business as usual.

Wale said there must be punishment for poor quality services, as well as unjustifiable pricing. 

“Telekom has been ripping of the Solomon Islands customers for far too long. Its ownership by NPF cannot be excuse for this abuse of the customer,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the broader economy also cannot be impeded or slowed down by the predatory business practices of Telekom in its dominant market position, as reflected in the poor quality of services and unjustifiable high prices.

“It is sad that citizens of this country are always victims to unjustifiable high prices by service providers in this country,” Wale said.