Major announcements are expected this afternoon on the approval of new mobile phone operators to enter the market.

After years of public comments about opening up the telecommunications market, common ground has been reached between the current telecommunications carriers and the interim government.

In the presence of World Bank mediators who flew into the country last week, and after hours of negotiations for four days in Nadi, Village News has received confirmation that an agreement has been reached.

It has been confirmed that Amalgamated Telecom Holdings and interim government officials signed an agreement at 3:30 this morning, which means that the telecommunications sector is now open and new competitors can enter the market.

Our sources confirm that a positive agreement has been reached which will be beneficial to all the players and an official public statement is expected late this afternoon.

Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, Interim Communications Minister Taito Waradi and ATH CEO Tomasi Vakatora, headed the talks which also included officials from FINTEL, Vodafone and Telecom Fiji Limited.