Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, Professor Pal Ahluwalia,
Esteemed Faculty Members of the University,
Cisco Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer, Dr. Guy Diedrich,
Cisco New Zealand and Pacific Islands Managing Director, Garrett Heraty,
Telecom Fiji CEO, Charles Goundar,
Telecom Fiji CTO, Mesake Tuinabua,
Directors and Distinguished Guests,
Bula Vinaka,
On behalf of the Fiji Government, it is a pleasure to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the South Pacific, Cisco, and Telecom Fiji as they embark on establishing the Digital Skills Hub.
This collaboration is not just about the convergence of institutions – it signifies a shared commitment to tackling real-world challenges through training, innovation, and digitalisation. This is critically needed to sustainably drive the many digital transformation initiatives that are already on foot and are being planned. There are three components of this digital ecosystem that the Coalition Government is focussed on.
The first component is narrowing our 5 percent digital divide and ensuring that all of our people have access to meaningful connectivity. With new and emerging technologies such as low earth orbiting satellites like Starlink (which I will speak about shortly) and cost-effective telecommunication towers, these will ensure that we progressively meet that objective.
There are two key initiatives that we are laser-focused on in this regard. Firstly, in partnership with the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji, work is already progressing to identify and connect the 5 percent of our people who are sparsely connected to the online world.
Secondly, in partnership with the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union, we have identified Rotuma as a pilot smart island. The objective of this project is to harness the opportunities of new and emerging technology to meet the needs of the community. Once completed, we hope to use the insights from Rotuma as we connect the remainder of our remote and isolated islands and communities.
Secondly, building a secure and resilient ICT infrastructure on which the various digital services will run. We have 3G, 4G and 4G+ broadband connectivity and 100 percent digital television coverage through both terrestrial and satellite means. We are connected to the Southern Cross Cable network and we are partnering with Google for the ‘Tabua’ subsea cable which will connect the United States and Australia to Fiji. Our telecommunication operators are ready for the new 5G technology and trials have started.
With the issuance of licences to Starlink, a leading provider of low earth orbiting satellite systems, it is now able to provide direct internet services to businesses and our people. As I mentioned previously, this is a game changer for Fiji as it provides further options to our people and especially, those in rural and remote communities and it bolsters our emergency communications capability, especially during disaster periods.
This leads me to my third component. The need to develop a robust and skilled workforce, especially in this digital world. For the Ministry, we also just completed our Girls in ICT Programme for the year, empowering a cohort of 55 girls between the ages of 15 and 18 years to embrace technology through tailored workshops and mentoring sessions.
This initiative provides opportunities for our girls and young women to learn new skills, connect with other like-minded girls, and even explore career opportunities in the tech industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Online Safety Commission also delivers school training on online safety and addressing cyberbullying, image based threats and to use the online platforms safely and responsibly. We also have a telecentre programme and connectivity programmes nationwide which can serve a dual purpose in providing access to digital tools and also building capacity on the use of these tools for those in our remote communities.
The Coalition Government is pleased to welcome Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Program to Fiji, where it will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education and innovation in our Region. This Programme also aligns to the third component in developing a robust and skilled workforce. It will also play a critical role in further developing our cyber ecosystem underpinned by research and innovation to meet our socio-economic needs.
The excitement is evident as CDA invests in our infrastructure and brings the promise of satellite learning, opening up exciting possibilities for higher education and skills development for students and the broader community in the Pacific Islands.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The conditions are now ripe for Fiji with various developments happening in the ICT space. Initiatives like this align well with the Coalition Government’s long-term goal of diversifying the economy, progressing into a more digital economy, and cementing Fiji as the hub of the Pacific.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we celebrate this collaborative milestone, it is a testament to the dedication of all parties involved, and I express my sincere thanks and well-wishes. This partnership marks a significant stride towards a brighter, digitally empowered future for Fiji and Region – and I look forward to the fruits of this collaboration.
Vinaka vakalevu and Thank you.