Denis in dispute

Denis O'Brien's plans to expand his Digicel mobile empire in the Pacific islands appear to have hit some interference in Papua New Guinea.

The company, which has proved a big hit in the Caribbean, has been sucked into a dispute between the incumbent telecom operator and the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) over the issuing last year of two mobile telephone licences.

Like all incumbents, Telikom PNG is trying to hold back the tide and has taken legal action to protect its position.

Digicel is due to go live with its mobile service on October 17th.

In an attempt to strike a compromise, the ICCC has flown in an arbitrator from Australia to try and broker a compromise.

O'Brien has shown in the past that he isn't afraid to take on the big boys. He has wiped the eye of Cable & Wireless in the Caribbean and he gave Eircom a run for its money with Esat Telecom.

Papua New Guinea has a population of about 4.7 million, although its literacy rate is estimated at about 50 per cent. That statistic is unlikely to put O'Brien off.

In Haiti, reckoned to be the world's poorest country, Digicel has signed up 1.4 million subscribers since its launch in May 2006.