Foreword

A global downturn in international telecommunications infrastructure development in the first half of this decade has recently been replaced with renewed enthusiasm for new investments, partnerships and telecoms capacity. This is partly fuelled by the anticipation that current returned growth in users and traffic may soon saturate international and domestic telecoms capacities in many parts of the world. Telecoms usage is growing rapidly in many economies. Yet, there is the perception that many economies in the Pacific lag in the development of competitively priced telecoms infrastructure, products, services and benefits therefrom – and that this has negative implications for employment, business, and other opportunities in such economies.

In response to interest expressed in improved information and communication services by Pacific leaders at the Pacific Leaders UNESCAP Special Session (PLUS) at the sixty-second session of the Commission, in 2006, the secretariat of ESCAP conducted a study of the Pacific Connectivity situation in the Pacific, and on opportunities for improved benefits to Pacific States from improved connectivity infrastructure, products and services. The study was supported by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States; the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation; and the Government of Turkey. It also benefited from a large number of recent studies on various aspects of connectivity in the Pacific and other potentially comparable developmental situations, such as by recent growth in infrastructure, usage, and benefits in some African, Indian Ocean and Caribbean island countries that previously had been poorly connected. Apart from Turkey, other countries from the South are interested in the study, and on Pacific connectivity reflecting the spirit, and the value, of South-South Cooperation.

There are many internal and external factors that either facilitate or constrain the development of information and communication infrastructure and services in Pacific developing countries. The report analyses such factors and opportunities, and proposes some technical, institutional and financial options. The World Bank and others are interested in providing various kinds of support to help Pacific States develop strategies and actions to move forward with connectivity. Other organizations have officially or unofficially expressed interest in collaborating with the Pacific to facilitate the progress.

One challenge for Pacific developing countries that are urgently requesting improved connectivity is to show to potential partners their willingness to cooperate in the pursuit of improved information and communication infrastructure connectivity and the benefits that this will ultimately bring.

Small Island Developing States are a priority focus of the United Nations. We are dedicated to helping Pacific States to understand, strategize and benefit from advances in connectivity. We believe that this study, along with several other recent studies, can help countries and their partners to move forward in this exciting arena. With the good examples, noted in this study as occurring in several parts of the world, now is an excellent time for countries to learn from each other, adapt and extend best practices to their own circumstances, and to cooperate in a manner that brings each country understandings and resources to better move forward.