People’s Alliance Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka is now calling for a public inquiry into Walesi as he says the unilateral decision to transition all television operators to one singular digital platform is typical of the arrogance of the dictatorial regime.
Rabuka says Walesi has not tabled audited financial reports in Parliament since it started in 2016 and yet received millions of dollars in grants apart from FBC.
He asks who is behind Walesi, who is Robert Khan, was there a tender done for all services related to Walesi, were there instances where any party awarded a contract from Walesi had to subcontract and why and how stable is the digital platform.
Rabuka says he is hearing stories that people that used to get access to TV no longer have access as they need the Walesi set top boxes and UHF antennas. He says even if the set top boxes are given for free for those earning $30,000 or below, people who are already suffering still have to buy a UHF antenna and get the connections done.
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He asks if Walesi will need to spend more money on transmission systems and towers.
Rabuka also asks who will pick up the bill as it would ultimately be the taxpayers.
The People’s Alliance Leader says this unilateral decision has meant that at a drop of a hat, a publicly listed company like Fiji TV has to abandon and write off whatever it had invested in their transmission systems and move to the Walesi platform.
Rabuka says we are going backwards if those who used to have television access no longer have access until they spend money.
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Rabuka says unfortunately, this move can only be looked at one way - an attempt to control television transmission in Fiji in a critical year 2022 and we all know what this means.
We have sent questions to the Communications Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Walesi.
It is not within our means or expertise to inform viewers of the switchover from analogue to digital television - Walesi CEO
TV broadcasters able to use Walesi free of charge until the first quarter of 2022
By: Semi Turaga
Walesi Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Maharaj says it is important to note that Walesi is a service provider and not a content producer, therefore it is not within their means or expertise to inform television viewers of the switchover from analogue to digital television.
In a statement released on the Fijian Government facebook page, Maharaj says, however, the company has conducted extensive free installations as well as an extensive media campaign, especially on our social media, together with awareness roadshows to further accommodate the broadcasters and viewers alike, through this transition.
He says to allow for a smoother transition, this digital switchover is being done in a phased manner, with the first phase applying to the Navua-Korovou region and the Nadi-Lautoka corridor.
Maharaj adds the rollout programme is ongoing with the second phase of the rollout due for completion by June 2022 across the nation.
The Walesi CEO says at the present time, Walesi has 21 digital transmitter sites across Fiji and that is already 300% larger than existing analogue broadcast networks with expansion plans in the pipeline for Kadavu, Rotuma and Lakeba.
He adds 711 free TV sets and Walesi equipment installations have also been done in rural locations which grant over 120,000 people access to the information age.
Maharaj further says to date, Walesi has completed a two-year process distributing 189,526 Set-Top Boxes and 2,776 satellite receivers which have been distributed Fiji-wide.
He adds the Fijian Government has also facilitated the provision of TV sets and Walesi equipment in community halls, Government centres, and schools in over 700 communities.
Maharaj says additionally, over 600,000 viewers are already accessing television through the Walesi App, with more expected to join in the months to come.
He has revealed that television broadcasters are able to continue using the Walesi platform free of charge until the first quarter of 2022.
Maharaj says the access tariff is determined by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.
He adds having FCCC mediate between Walesi and the broadcasters has created an independent process and helps everyone involved to ensure a fair outcome.
Fiji Television Limited says the shutting down of the analogue transmitters in Suva and Nadi is in accordance with correspondence from the Ministry of Communications and is in line with phase one of the Government’s planned switch-over process from analogue to digital television, Walesi. FBC CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had said the switch over is good for the people as the picture and sound quality will be better. Mai TV Director Stanley Simpson said there are benefits that will come from this switch-over however they would have appreciated a bit more time to do this and any increase in transmission fees by Walesi will severely impact the television broadcast business in the country.
Following the switchover, some affected residents have shared their concerns with us.
A resident of Volivoli, Rakiraki was concerned he could not get a TV signal on the Walesi platform to watch the Dubai 7s.
Gyanendra Sharma said he has a Walesi set-top box and an antenna but he was not able to watch television.
He says he had bought an antenna for $75 when Walesi was introduced in Fiji.
37 year old, Maika Tikoilau from Nasau, Koro, Lomaiviti says villagers have been asked to pay for the Walesi agent’s travel fare to Koro Island to fix their TV connectivity problems.
Tikoilau says many of the villagers have their own Walesi set-top boxes and antennas but they are disappointed that they cannot access the Walesi network.
He says some of the villagers were planning to travel to Suva to buy a set-top box but they couldn't due to the fear of another lockdown.
Some residents of Naivikinikini in Lami who do not have access to Walesi set-top boxes connected to their home television set are disappointed as they no longer have access to television channels.
Frances Qounadovu says this was the talk of the town for them as there was no prior notice given about the switch over.
She says majority of the homes have the Walesi set-top box but do not have the UHF antenna as it is expensive.
Qounadovu says this has had a great impact on them.
It should be consumer demand that drives television stations onto a digital platform like Walesi – Richard Naidu
By: Semi Turaga
Suva lawyer Richard Naidu believes that it should be consumer demand that drives television stations onto a digital platform like Walesi and it should not be the Government forcing them onto that platform.
Naidu says he is asking these questions because we know so little about the amount of tax dollars being spent on Walesi.
He says the question is why is the Government saying use only the Walesi platform when there are still other platforms available.
Naidu adds he is not saying do not use Walesi but he is asking why use only Walesi.
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He says the first consequence of this change is already here where there are a number of people who simply can no longer access their TV channels.
The Suva lawyer further adds every content provider who can now only distribute through Walesi is completely at Walesi’s mercy.
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Naidu says why are private-sector television channels being forced to do something they do not want to do.
He adds after having being forced to do it, the television channels are now also being forced to pay.
