The Office of the Regulator has approved new retail tariffs for mobile services provided by telecommunication Digicel Samoa Limited and Vodafone Samoa.

This was outlined in the Orders of the Regulator No.2023/T05 and No.2023/T04 which were issued on 15 November 2023. According to the Orders, the Office of the Regulator recently received proposed retail tariffs from the two telecommunication companies for review and approval from the Regulator. 

As such and in compliance with section 8(1)(r) of the Telecommunications Act 2005, the Regulator revoked the Order of Regulator No.2022/T08 and replaced it with the new orders. 

The approval of the new retail tariffs by the Regulator comes after considering and reviewing the companies' submissions and reports, the objectives of the Act, and the provisions of the Act regarding tariffs, in particular, section 40(3). 

Furthermore, the new tariffs shall be the approved retailed tariffs specified for the purpose of the orders and shall be applicable and available to the market for twelve (12) months. The new retail tariff filing shall be 21 working days before the 12-month period ends. 

"All retail tariffs included are in Samoan tala and are inclusive of VAGST," reads the Regulator's orders. "For the purpose of the orders, peak periods will be between 8.00 am and 7.59 pm on weekdays. The off-peak period would be between 8.00 pm and 7.59 am on weekdays and weekends. 

"The rates are expressed per minute for billing purposes, they are applied and charged on the basis of increments of up to six seconds, unless the context indicates otherwise."

The orders will expire upon the Regulator issuing a revocation or the making of a new Order by the Regulator for services provided in a market in which it has been declared dominant. The orders became effective on 20 November 2023.