Enhancing Pacific Connectivity

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Abstract

Many parts of the world, including parts of Asia and the Pacific, have begun to benefit significantly from improved telecommunications infrastructure and services. Emerging benefits include job and business opportunities; improved delivery of educational, health and other public services; and from an overall feeling of being connected, regardless of location where such capabilities are available.

Small island developing States in the Pacific sometimes feel left out of such developments. Only half the populated Pacific islands have any form of telecommunications, with many of limited capacity and expensive. Increasing numbers of cables cross the Pacific, but most Pacific islands are bypassed.

Nevertheless, fundamental conditions within the Pacific greatly favour increased benefits from connectivity and related services. Literacy rates and health care delivery are at relatively high rates in most Pacific States, with others standing to benefit in such arenas from beneficial connectivity improvements. The next step may be to bring benefits from the types of job and socio-economic opportunities that accompany new connectivity services, such as data entry, call centre operations, back office support, e-commerce such as tourism and SME product marketing, and info services.

External infrastructure conditions are also favourable. C-band satellite infrastructure is reaching capacity in Asia-Pacific. Some operators with existing capacity are interested in exploring opportunities with Pacific stakeholders for leasing additional capacity at rates lower than some Pacific States may be paying now. Some providers are willing to co-design, cooperatively with stakeholders in the Pacific, new satellites or services. Satellite telephony soon to reach the western Pacific offers costs that are generally much lower than existing international calling rates – with the possibility of “universal service” in covered areas. Such systems are often pursued with local partnerships, offering opportunities for incumbents or new entrants to offer exciting and cost-effective services.

Populations in most small Pacific economies compare reasonably favourably in literacy and densities with rural areas, or even small islands, that are gaining services in other parts of the world, including rural North America, parts of Africa, the Caribbean, and Indian Ocean small island States. Models for harmonized regulatory environments, business and service environments, should offer good ideas for the Pacific. Other developmental partners have also expressed interest and willingness to help.

The report recommends improved usage of existing regional governmental, industry and user cooperation institutions, and/or the enhancement of these into a capability to strengthen decision-makers’ abilities to move forward, to help increase Pacific synergies for acquiring, sustaining, and benefiting from current connectivity trends and opportunities.

How to skim this report (capsule abstracts of the chapters/sections of the report)

The Overview section is an extended, non-technical, executive summary of the report.

Chapter 1 gives a stocktaking background of the current situation, including a socio-economic analysis that suggests that improved connectivity could be of great benefit to Pacific States, and potential developmental or commercial partners.

Chapter 2 assesses the potential for cable, satellite, and terrestrial wireless to connect and serve small Pacific economies. It proposes options in cost-effective cable and satellite, with terrestrial wireless providing “last-mile” connectivity in appropriate areas.

Chapter 3 assesses the economic viability of service for the Pacific, and finds that capitalization of contemporary telecoms business/service models should be feasible, on a family basis, in the Pacific.

Chapter 4 describes institutional arrangements that could help Pacific States enhance their telecoms. Whether a new institution is needed, or whether some combination of existing institutions can fulfill such task is up to stakeholders in Pacific connectivity. However, most stakeholders who have spoken have expressed hopes that decision-makers can be supported with impartial advice/expertise, and that the Pacific can be strengthened to strategize and arrange for the provision of improved connectivity and services – by facilitating an environment that enables investors to develop and sustain infrastructure and services without the necessity for subsidies.

Appendices have supporting data and information.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Overview: Enhancing Pacific Connectivity / (PDF version 148 Kb)
• Chapter 1: Taking Stock of Telecommunication Connectivity and Associated Supportive Infrastructure in the Pacific / (PDF version 243 Kb)
• Chapter 2: Technical Viability / (PDF version 243 Kb)
• Chapter 3: Economic and Commercial Viability / (PDF version 243 Kb)
• Chapter 4: Institutional and Associated Financial Considerations / (PDF version 243 Kb)
• Selected Key Readings
• Appendix A: Telecommunications Data on the Pacific, and Comparators
• Appendix B: Recent Practices and Concepts for Telecommunications Infrastructure Development for Small Markets
• Appendix C: Additional Stocktaking Information on Pacific Island States

Download the full version (PDF 5Mb) of the report, or the overview (PDF 4.1 Mb).