INTERNET service provider Connect has maintained that there is competition in the market for customers to choose from.
The comment from Telecom Fiji Limiteds acting chief executive officer Ivan Fong followed claims by the Consumer Council of Fiji that Connect was a dominant player in the market specifically for fixed line broadband services.
We reserve our rights on the matter, Mr Fong said.
In an earlier statement, the council said Connects comment that it operated in a competitive environment was not entirely true.
Council chief executive officer Premila Kumar had said there were only two internet service providers in the country and Connect was one of them.
She said the other internet service provider did not have substantial market power in the fixed line internet market as Connect, adding that the latter had more market power by virtue of it being the ISP arm of Telecom Fiji Limited which owned and controlled fixed line services in Fiji.
Connects treatment of its customers reflects a company who has market power derived not from its own achievements but by virtue of its position with TFL.
If there were other competitors operating fixed line broadband services under a fair access regime, then we may have competition which Connect is referring to.
At this time there is none and consumers are stuck with Connect.
Wireless ISPs are there as a choice but they operate in a different market and network coverage is undoubtedly limited and sporadic, Mrs Kumar said.