Tower Lease Rates

by Tony P
(Inglewood, New Zealand)

As part of the New Zealand Government Aid programme in the South Pacific a 60 meter tower has been constructed for the Government of Kiribati on the south western side of island atoll of Tarawa. The tower is one of the tallest and most robust on the island.

It was built to host a marine navigation beacon and a marine VHF repeater network for the sea area around Tarawa. It has been recognized since as a significant public asset and attracted the attention of the (only) local telecommunications company ATHK as a likely site for antennae to service their 4G system. ATHK has about 40,000 customers across Kiribati, mostly in Tarawa.

Work has been done to develop a pro forma contract for use of the tower. However there is little knowledge as to what might reasonably be charged on a monthly basis for use/lease of space on the tower. It is likely ATHK will wish to mount up to three vertical 4G antennae and up to three microwave dishes on the tower as far up as possible. They will need space in the hut below the tower and access to power which they will pay.

Would you be able to advise on what might reasonably be charged?

Thanking you in anticipation.

Tony PARR.
Maritime New Zealand adviser to the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.