FREE ONLINE SERVICE BY SERVICE PROVIDERS ON GSM PLATFORMS


In PNG, the number of people using internet is rapidly growing so as the amount of activities, as we are in the digital age. People are using internet to google, for video/audio streaming and file downloads/uploads, for social media, but most importantly, they are using it for ONLINE SERVICES such as internet banking, plane booking/ticketing, hotel bookings, ecommerce, online payment, online studies, assignments, researches and other similar.

They are using internet from home, at work or wherever they are, utilizing mobile broadband devices, such as mobile phones and wifis, to their advantage. They want convenience and easy access to online services from where they are and when they want it.

Because of the high internet price in the country, mostly prepaid internet users are more conscious of data depletion, although the demand for it is inelastic. For online service providers, this could be seen as a marketing opportunity to take advantage of by working in partnership with telecommunications/Cellphone operators.

The backend technical support can be provided by telco/GSM operators to zero-rate specific URLs for free browsing, whist the cost for free service is borne by the service providers as marketing costs.

What is that marketing opportunity existing in the hands of online service providers? It is to provide FREE websites/portals/Apps to users in order to further increase traffic. Increase traffic means, increase sales leads and more revenue!

For such service, ideal customers would be banking and financial institutions, aviation companies, hotels, communications companies, and government departments such as PNG IPA, IRC, Immigration Office and PNG TPA. 

The onus is now on the telcos, mostly GSM operators, to market this and get on board service providers who are heavily engaged in online services. 

And most importantly, such win-win marketing strategy will be in line with the 2018 APEC resolutions on "Digital Economy" and government policies on affordable internet access by Papua New Guineans in the medium term. 

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