PACIFIC ISLANDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 PACIFIC ISLANDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Regional Report Presenter: Mr. Ivan Fong : PITA President

2 What is PITA? The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) is a non-profit organisation formed to represent the interests of Pacific Islands towards telecommunications / ICT development Promote, enhance & improve development in telecommunications services and ICT in the Pacific

3 About PITA Formed in 1997 from the members of Forum Secretariat Telecom Division From 9 members representing 8 Pacific Islands Countries & Territories to 43 members from 22 PICTs Members are Telecommunications entities from Pacific - Operators, Carriers & Govt. Regulators Currently 14 members are Regulators Associate Members are suppliers of telecommunications equipment, applications & solutions 83 Associate Members

4 The Pacific

5 Overview Competition gradually increasing Driving penetration, especially in mobile Prices somewhat decrease, affordability concerns remain Limited access to broadband Similar situation for Internet / Broadband ADSL and wireless access Other supporting infrastructure End user devices Some cable but still satellite dependent for transmission high costs Rural / Urban divide

6 Pacific Connectivity 9 Pacific Islands have subsea optical fiber Potentially 6 more new fiber systems identified However, satellite still the lifeline to outside world ~3Mn in proximity to fiber in urban areas >5Mn accessed via satellite / wireless >3Mn have no access

7 Key Challenges Competition policy Tuning / Balancing Investment and Competition Regional strategy Pacific Digital Strategy Setting goals and measuring success Business models are changing Traditional revenues shrinking / commoditisation Harder to compete against International OTT Scale / Scope are becoming more important Internet charging regime does not help

8 Key challenges Developing access to international highways - World bank identified: High cost and limited bandwidth slowing growth and development in PICs 4 High bandwidth countries best served with fibre connectivity 4 Medium bandwidth countries with some assistance could justify fibre Satellite still more cost effective for smaller PICs

9 Key Challenges Increasing local access Broadband penetration End user devices User education and outreach Privacy and cyber-security Human Capacity - expertise, skill transfer and retention

10 Current Activities Competition policy / regulation in cooperation with ITU and World bank Workshops ITU CoE Pacific Regulatory Resource Centre Cyber Security PacCERT Disaster communications Successful pilot and training - NZAID Possible collaboration with ESCAP Consolidated arrangements

11 Current Activities PACNOG technical training IPv6 training and workshops - APNIC Technical Cooperation between Developing Countries (TCDC) Spectrum Management - ITU Fraud Forum

12 Future Action For PITA & Partners Collaboration on NGT New business models and impact on old business models Applications Policy and Model Legislation to enable ICT for Development Sustainable ICT Waste disposal Green ICT Renewable energy Open to work with agency with common goals, and interests for development of telecommunications & ICT in the Pacific

13 Key Issues for Consideration PITA will work towards promoting development and building capacity within the Pacific towards sustainable ICT development PITA will continue to drive collaboration and consensus between stakeholders The Pacific Way PITA will continue to undertake and support initiatives towards sustainable ICT development

14 Partners Close collaborations with: ITU PTC CTO APNIC APT ICANN PIFS World Bank SPC USP

15 Thank You! PITA Contacts Level 8 Dominion House Suva, Fiji Islands Tel: Fax: pita@connect.com.fj Website :