Fiji's communications ministry will be issuing licences this week for the operation of Voice over Internet Protocol services.
The interim telecommunications minister, Taito Waradi, has told the Fijilive news website that three local companies have applied, and it's open to whoever else is interested.
When the wireless internet provider Unwired Fiji applied for the VoIP service in June, local telecommunications companies owned by the Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Group had objected, saying they should have exclusive licences.
Mr Waradi says they're giving out the licences now but whoever comes in will have to pay the new fee of 6-thousand US dollars plus Value Added Tax, or 1-point-5 percent of turnover - whichever is greater.
