Fijilive
October 25, 2011 10:20:55 AM

 The Fijian government fully supports the mass development of information technology to all Fijians says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Speaking during the Broadband Leadership Summit - Plenary 4b “Megabits & MDGs” in Geneva, Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji needs the expeditious implementation of connectivity and appropriate content to facilitate economic opportunities, sustained livelihoods, as well as to enhance health care and make education affordable and accessible.

“It is even necessary for the safety of our people as it enables early warning systems for tsunamis and other natural disasters,” he said.

"Fiji needs to cover a vast area of lowly populated islands, the limitations of resources, and the relative economies of scale – and on the other, existing high mobile voice penetration and reduced tariff rates on smart phones: mobile broadband is the way forward.

“Collaboration therefore is essential. We must collaborate with the private sector. We must collaborate with international institutions and multinational corporations. We must also collaborate with each other as nations and in particular, with our neighbours to whom we have a responsibility."

Commodore Bainimarama said through prioritisation Fiji now has become the hub of the South Pacific in respect of ICT.

“A number of countries in the Pacific are seeking to link up with the Southern Cross submarine cable which lands in Fiji,” he said.