Crossing the

From digital banking to e-government, business leaders talk to us about how digital services are starting to transform the economy

By Mark Story

The advent in 2019/20 of the international Coral Sea Cable System and domestic Kumul Submarine Cable Network has helped to reduce the cost of data in Papua New Guinea and made it easier for its people to access the internet.

Meanwhile, the expansion of telco networks to over 80 per cent of the population (see page 37) – plus the network redundancy provided by satellite providers – is encouraging more investment in digital services.

‘Connecting PNG by data infrastructure is critical and there’s investment in that sector, which is encouraging,’ says Westpac PNG Chief Executive, Brett Hooker, who tells Business Advantage PNG Westpac has successfully moved 85 per cent of its clients to online services. Greater adoption of smartphones, currently only around 12 per cent of the market, is only likely to drive further growth.

‘Digital is at the core of our strategy,’ notes Kina Bank’s CEO, Greg Pawson. ‘We’ve launched a number of new channels, including WhatsApp banking, the take-up of which has been phenomenal.’

Kina Bank plans to accelerate the move to chequeless banking by the end of 2023 through the launch of Pay Better, which allows the prepayment of phone and utility bills.

The bank will come to you

Danny Robinson, CEO of Credit Corporation PNG, agrees that easier and cheaper internet access for people in remote regions underpins increased migration toward branchless banking.

The good news for Papua New Guineans in remote regions, adds Robinson, is greater opportunity to open accounts electronically.

‘Setting up marquees in carparks in remote areas is a way to enable the account opening process, and deliver PIN numbers/cards to customers, without having a physical presence in these locations,’ says Robinson.

Many of PNG’s retailers have also invested in online ordering, while online-only players such as Shopsmart PNG have emerged, even if goods delivery in PNG is still sometimes a challenge. Improved connectivity has also seen the introduction ODESH, PNG’s answer to Uber.

‘Ultimately,’ observes Robinson, ‘allowing people to transfer money, pay bills and buy products and services online will eliminate the reliance on both cheques and branch networks.’

E-government

With connectivity continuing to improve across PNG, it’s also becoming easier for Papua New Guineans to engage with their government online.

Recent examples of e-government initiatives include the Immigration and Citizenship Authority’s visa platform, the Investment Promotion Authority’s online business registration system and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning’s eLands platform.

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