new york – 5th november 2008 united nations connectivity opportunities and challenges for the...
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New York – 5th November 2008New York – 5th November 2008
United Nations
Connectivity Connectivity Opportunities and Opportunities and
challenges for the Pacific challenges for the Pacific Islands countriesIslands countries
“ENHANCING PACIFIC CONNECTIVITY”Wednesday 5 November 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 pm.
New York, Conference Room 9
New York – 5th November 2008New York – 5th November 2008
United Nations
About PITAAbout PITAAbout PITAAbout PITA
• Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association formed in 1996 and based in Suva Fijiformed in 1996 and based in Suva Fiji
•A Non profit organisation dedicated to : A Non profit organisation dedicated to : improve, improve, promote, enhance, facilitate and provide promote, enhance, facilitate and provide telecommunications services within the Pacific.telecommunications services within the Pacific.
•107 members (33 operators, 8 regulators & 66 107 members (33 operators, 8 regulators & 66 industry suppliers and services providers)industry suppliers and services providers)
• different fields of activities : Workshops, Training, different fields of activities : Workshops, Training, CEO meetings, working groups …etc…CEO meetings, working groups …etc…
• Heavy efforts in cooperation with partner Heavy efforts in cooperation with partner organisations (ITU, APT, CTO, PIFS, SPC, SOPAC, WB, organisations (ITU, APT, CTO, PIFS, SPC, SOPAC, WB, ICANN, APNIC… )ICANN, APNIC… )
New York – 5th November 2008New York – 5th November 2008
United Nations
New York – 5th November 2008New York – 5th November 2008
United Nations
PITA activitiesPITA activities
Organise events in the region for its members :
• Training seminars to enhance expertise and skills within each country
• Workshops to allow sharing of experiences between us and with all stakeholders (Regional & International organisations, suppliers, solutions providers …)
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Regional & International CooperationRegional & International Cooperation
Continue to promote development of ICT throughout cooperation :
• work at transnational level for major projects
• PITA representation in major meetings from partners organisations
• inputs from PITA in the ICT Task Force as part of the “Pacific Plan - Digital strategy” implementation plan as endorsed by Pacific Islands government leaders
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United Nations
Challenges to overcome in the Pacific Is..Challenges to overcome in the Pacific Is..Challenges to overcome in the Pacific Is..Challenges to overcome in the Pacific Is..
• Vast distancesVast distances
• Thousands of small islands Thousands of small islands with very small populationswith very small populations
• Bigger islands with Bigger islands with unfriendly topographyunfriendly topography
• High Costs to deploy, High Costs to deploy, manage & maintain networksmanage & maintain networks
• High operational & access High operational & access costscosts
• Lack of local resourcesLack of local resources
• Lack of economies of scalesLack of economies of scales
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United Nations
The situation :
• More than 2/3 of the population of the Pacific Islands countries is living in rural areas
• We are adressing in most cases developing countries or LDC’s
• A real need to develop infrastructure for rural access to information & communications
A very unique contextA very unique contextA very unique contextA very unique context
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Technology options : Submarine Cable solutions are proposed along with existing satellite infrastructure - consider both options to serve main cities but also rural areas :
• Satellite is suitable for both national and international needs (few projects already planned)
• Submarine Cable is relevant for the most populated countries with majority of households in capital and for international / regional connectivity
Which way to connect the unconnected ?Which way to connect the unconnected ?Which way to connect the unconnected ?Which way to connect the unconnected ?
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United Nations
Satellite coverage of the Pacific
• Develop “consolidated” capacity deals with satellite providers
• Deploy modern ground infrastructure
• Raise level of Skills & expertise in each country
• Point to point or point to multipoint applications
The way forward : rely on current The way forward : rely on current possibilitiespossibilities
The way forward : rely on current The way forward : rely on current possibilitiespossibilities
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United Nations
Submarine cable connectivity for the Pacific
• Few projects being promoted over the last Decade (Oxygen, Cable & Wireless and more recently SPIN)
• a way to address high bandwidth needs for some countries
• Major investment at start to connect “most populated centers” and long term viability challenge
• Point to point applications only
The way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new options
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Terrestrial communications
• All other terrestrial transmission technologies need to be used when appropriate (wireless particularly – radio microwave, Wifi , Wi Max …)
• Options which can provide the best business case for last mile connectivity
• In combination with satellite, ideal concept to reach the small rural communities (Example of the RICS concept satellite VSAT network)
The way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new optionsThe way forward : new options
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United Nations
Projects :
• At national but also at trans-national level
• Involving close cooperation between governments, operators and solutions providers from the industry
• All technologic options to be considered and analysed with a business case
The way forward : a need for structured The way forward : a need for structured projectsprojects
The way forward : a need for structured The way forward : a need for structured projectsprojects
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The key conditions for success :
• For all projects focusing on “enhancing Pacific Connectivity” A real need for coordination between different funding organisations / donors and intergovernmental organisations (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, ITU, APT)
• Establish in each country a regulatory environment that would enable fair competition practices
• Intensify capacity building for regulators
The way forward : the key conditionsThe way forward : the key conditionsThe way forward : the key conditionsThe way forward : the key conditions
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United Nations
PITA’s involvement for the next stepsPITA’s involvement for the next stepsPITA’s involvement for the next stepsPITA’s involvement for the next steps
Relying on its members network, PITA will Relying on its members network, PITA will facilitate practical implementation of facilitate practical implementation of “Enhancing Pacific Connectivity“Enhancing Pacific Connectivity• what connectivity solution will be suitable ?what connectivity solution will be suitable ?• At what cost ?At what cost ?• For what services ?For what services ?• For how many people ?For how many people ?• How to make it work on long term ?How to make it work on long term ?
New York – 5th November 2008New York – 5th November 2008
United Nations www.pita.org.fj
Malo, Vinaka , fa’afetai, Maoro, Malo, Vinaka , fa’afetai, Maoro, mauruuru, meitaki, Kalangen, mauruuru, meitaki, Kalangen, Kam rabwa, mesulang, merci, Kam rabwa, mesulang, merci,
Thank youThank you