Tonga Communications Corporation and Vodafone Fiji have signed a strategic partnership alliance that will allow the Tongan telecommunications company to leverage the extensive industry experience of Vodafone Fiji.

Vodafone Fiji CEO, Mr Pradeep Lal has called the partnership a win-win extension of a long-standing relationship between TCC and Vodafone Fiji. “We have in the past hosted industry visits from our TCC counterparts to share our industry knowledge and experience..and the partnership signing further strengthens our relationship for mutual benefit,” he said.

“The partnership provides opportunities for both parties to leverage each other’s strength and, where possible, to team up together to negotiate better deals from suppliers and vendors for the benefit of customers in both countries.

Mr Lal since taking office in July, had earlier signed on Vodafone Tahiti.

The Chairlady of TCC Tonga Aloma Johansson said Vodafone Fiji has an enviable and proven track record in the mobile telecommunications industry in Fiji. “They also maintain an impressive 85% market share post six years of full competition; that is a remarkable achievement in light of the competition. TCC being the market leader in Tonga can certainly learn from Vodafone Fiji’s competitive strategy to strengthen its own market position.”

She said that TCC had recently launched 3G services and the partnership entailed leveraging Vodafone Fiji's scale and knowledge to procure many products and services such as 3G data devices, dongles, handsets, and smartphones, and to procure network infrastructure.

Vodafone Fiji would also assist and share technical and commercial expertise with TCC in the launch of mobile roaming services, and assist with billing and revenue assurance. TCC was also interested in procuring branding and marketing services from Vodafone Fiji.

Tongan students studying in Fiji as well as Fiji based businesses operating in Tonga, and others, would benefit from competitive mobile communications services between the countries.