The presence of overseas visitors highlights the enormous strides Fiji has made in the ICT sector - AG

The presence of overseas visitors and vendors highlights the enormous strides Fiji has made in the ICT sector in the last three to five years.

While launching the Fiji Tech Summit 2022, Attorney General and Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says around 630,000 Fijians have an authentic facebook account and 95% of people have a mobile connectivity which ranges from 3G, 4G and 4G+.

Sayed-Khaiyum says access to education and access to technical training is critically important and the Fijian Government has increased the number of scholarships this year.

He says the Walesi platform, that the Fijian Government invested in, gives access to all Fijians to free to air television and radio, even in the regions like the Southern Lau Group or the north eastern regions like Rotuma.

Sayed-Khaiyum also says Government is committed to connecting the remaining 5 percent even if it costs a lot more.

He says as a country they need to work on connecting to a second fibre optic cable which will connect the Western side of Fiji.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds they are currently working with another company which is running a feasibility study in the current financial year.

The Minister says in the next few weeks the Reserve Bank of Fiji will completely go online with the national online payments system.

He adds there are hardware and software requirements.

He says he wants to work with those who have the availability of assistance and adopt the best technology.

Sayed-Khaiyum says last year the Fijian Government has put in place the Cyber Crime Act and in the last sitting they referred the Budapest Convention to the Parliamentary Committee for a review.

He says after Tonga had a volcanic eruption and they lost connectivity, the Fijian Government worked with the Elon Musk company to provide them with temporary license for them to get connected.