Acting Permanent Secretary for Communications Tupou’tuah Baravilala says efforts have led to 95 per cent Fijians having access to broadband connectivity.
Baravilala said this in her keynote address at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regional Radiocommunication Seminar 2022 for Asia-Pacific in Nadi yesterday.
She said they are working to bridge the 5 per cent digital gap.
“Spectrum is the foundational component to ensure universal meaningful connectivity and to bridge the digital divide.”
“Recent statistics tell us that 2.7 billion people are not connected to the online world and the many benefits that it offers.”
“We undertook an assessment and identified 240 sites which make up 4.02 per cent of the 5 per cent and we will progressively connect these unconnected sites which are in the maritime and isolated areas in 3 phases.”
She explained that for phase 1, in this financial year, the Government will build towers nationwide to connect the first 96 sites and have employed the “Infrastructure Sharing” model with the telecommunication service providers and it will be funded from the universal service access fund.
“With the near universal access to connectivity, the next step was digital transformation and under our flagship digitalFIJI programme, we have deployed various applications and systems for even closer engagement with the public and, with a renewed focus on a person-centric and a business-centric approach.”
“The above demonstrates that a supportive spectrum policy environment can be the spark that ignites a sustainable digital transformation journey and greater digital inclusion for developing countries and small island developing states.”
She added that with the rapid pace of evolving and emerging technology, it will continue to require increased spectrum allocation.
“So, it is pertinent that international best practices are periodically reviewed and policies support fast and sustainable development of this sector.”
“It also calls for an urgent need for an even closer multi stakeholder approach in addressing current and future challenges which are to be discussed and decided at the World Radiocommunication Conferences and to then be implemented in countries.”
“You all have a vital role to play as the technical experts of your countries, regulators, policy makers and private sector. And your attendance and active participation at seminars and meetings like this influences progress. I encourage you all to share experiences, insights, discuss challenges and formulate appropriate solutions regarding this dynamic spectrum landscape.”
