PNG's back.

[Pippen94]

“Taxpayers will shoulder most of the financial risk in Telstra’s $US1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) purchase of Digicel Pacific, to ensure China does not take over the telecommunications network operating in six island countries neighbouring Australia.
The unprecedented deal involves Telstra contributing a modest $US270 million, with the government injecting more than $US1.33 billion ($1.8 billion) in debt and equity and providing other insurance to Australia’s largest telco.”



“The government will also insure Telstra for political risk on regulatory and tax issues, help with cash repatriation from Pacific islands and provide foreign exchange hedging for dividends and debt funding.”


“A source familiar with the deal expected that some of Australia’s foreign aid spending in PNG – estimated to reach almost $590 million in 2021-22 – would in future include a telecommunications component.”

Taxpayers bankroll Telstra’s $2.1b Digicel buy

Telstra will outlay just $US270 million in the deal to buy the strategically important South Pacific telco as part of its agreement with the federal government.

www.afr.com

There's PNG team future sponsor lol

 

[Wb1234]

Digicel’s investment in PNG has been generating significant returns: in the year to March 2019, PNG operations brought in revenue of more than US$340 million and made a contribution to group earnings (EBITDA) of $160.5 million. PNG’s contribution was worth 16.7% of total EBITDA and was the largest from a single market within the group. Revenue and profitability increased even as the company lost a half million mobile subscribers, which it says was the result of government policies requiring the registration of SIM cards.

The PNG operations have been making an increased contribution to Digicel’s profits, offsetting losses elsewhere in the group’s operations. More than 14% of the Digicel group’s revenue is counted in PNG kina. It’s regularly the largest or second-largest foreign currency in which the company deals.

Debt threatens Digicel’s Pacific dominance

The sprawling telecoms provider is deep in the red, and it might be the company’s PNG profits that help bail it out.

www.lowyinstitute.org

Yeh they are going to love a png nrl team

 

[Wb1234]

 

[Canard]

Funny how no-one ever mentions his Dad is Scottish.

 

[mongoose]

I reckon it may be due to visa issues especially compared to NZ
If a 15 year old kid in NZ is a good prospect he can move to Australia easily to get into an NRL clubs program - either with help from the NRL club or from his own family. Would be hundreds of examples of this in the last 20 years or so. This is due to NZ being able to move freely between Oz and NZ

If you are in PNG you would need some sort of visa to come to Australia and probably too much hassle for NRL clubs (who won't have any recruiters over there anyway). I note that there are a few PNG players in the school system who I assume are maybe from wealthier families who can afford to send their kids to Australia for high school.

yeah i've heard this, I just figure if PNG was such a gold mine of talent, clubs would find a way around these barriers. In saying that, most NRL clubs are run by absolute plonkers.

 

[bazza]

In saying that, most NRL clubs are run by absolute plonkers.

I think standard practice in NRL clubs is to copy what the other clubs do - then one club will do something different and get some success - so then the rest can copy that

 

[Wb1234]

I think standard practice in NRL clubs is to copy what the other clubs do - then one club will do something different and get some success - so then the rest can copy that

Copy what the dominant club does

For ten years the nrl was trying to copy the storm now they are trying to copy Penrith

Who are a better role model as it means investing in juniors

 

[bazza]

Copy what the dominant club does

For ten years the nrl was trying to copy the storm now they are trying to copy Penrith

Who are a better role model as it means investing in juniors

since most clubs don't have as many juniors as Penrith hopefully someone will pick up areas like PNG as theirs

 

[Wb1234]

since most clubs don't have as many juniors as Penrith hopefully someone will pick up areas like PNG as theirs

Would love that

Or Copy dogs who have small junior base but got kids from all over and put them in under 16 and up

Think png nrl team will do the hard yards setting up junior pathways and developing players and then Aussie clubs will just sit back and poach them