Fiji Case Study
Fiiji, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), is at a
crossroads in its ICT evolution. The country's relative position in
telecommunication penetration rankings has been declining over the last 30 years
and to catch up, it needs to fully exploit the advantages it has. This include
its strategic location in the Pacific and the fact that it headquarters of a
number of regional organizations. Another strength is its English-speaking,
literate population and the presence of the University of the South Pacific, a
major regional tertiary educational institution. The decision to connect to the
Southern Cross fibre optic undersea cable was forward looking and ensures the
country an ample supply of bandwidth. It now needs the applications, services
and growing market to exploit this.
Major barriers to becoming an information society are the lack
of awareness about the benefits of ICTs to meet development needs, limited
infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and the country's long-term
telecommunication monopoly. The fact that there are different operators for each
telecommunication segment (local, mobile, international and Internet) adds to
higher pricing. With this market situation Fiji is missing the benefits that a
more competitive telecom market would provide such as lower prices, better
quality, enhanced innovation and greater customer focus. Fiji's mobile peak time
call charges, for example, are among the highest in the world and given the
current levels of coverage and tariffs mobile penetration (at around eleven
percent) is probably close to saturation. Market liberalization and sector
reform are crucial. A new telecommunication bill, calling for the establishment
of a telecommunication regulator and a licensing framework, are under
preparation.
In the ITU's Digital Access Index, which ranks 178 countries
according to their ability to access ICTs, Fiji falls into the middle of the
medium access group and ranks 85th. It compares well in terms of knowledge and
affordability due to its relatively high literacy and school enrolment and flat
rate local call pricing for dial-up Internet access. It does less well in
infrastructure, usage and quality
A mission to Fiji was carried out from June 26 - 2 July 2003,
involving Michael Minges and Vanessa Gray. The mission and interviews were
coordinated with the Ministry of Communications (MoC).
Fiji Case Study
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