Digicel Chairman Denis O’Brien is calling for an undersea cable from Papua New Guinea through the Pacific and back into Sydney to increase connectivity by providing access to broadband services for all.
While speaking at the Private Sector Forum of the UN Small Island Developing States conference, O’Brien is also asking for a new economic plan for heavily indebted Caribbean states.
Digicel is proposing a new submarine cable that would connect Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands back into Sydney.
This new submarine cable would deliver unlimited connectivity to consumer and business customers and have a major impact in developing the economies of these Island States.
Denis O’Brien used the forum to impress the importance of connectivity for small island developing states to unlock economic growth.
He said there won’t be a real change in economic growth in most of the Pacific Islands until a submarine cable is built to these remote countries.
The Digicel Chairman said the private sector must partner with the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, IFC, The European Union and Pacific Governments to come together to build a submarine cable in order to close the digital divide that exists where Pacific Island nations do not have access to broadband.
Digicel said O’Brien’s vision to increase connectivity was supported in principle by World Bank Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change Rachel Kyte, who indicated that the World Bank would consider following if Digicel were to lead on the project.
O’Brien said he wants to see that every child has access to the Internet; despite their location, they should be able to access a virtual classroom.
In attendance at the closing of the forum, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki‑moon commented that, “extraordinary partnerships are essential for Small Island Developing States”.
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