Tuesday, 5 October Tonga communication. When this is completed, Tonga At the same time, as noted earlier, whilst it is our duty to continue to actively and proactively promote the technological advances which have dramatically im-proved will advance even further and will be able to enjoy the boundless benefits of ICT even more. the lives of our people, we have also been tasked Tonga however, would not have achieved these results without the help of the international community. In this regard, I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude for the most valuable assistance we have re-ceived to establish the foundation, and promote the devel-opment, of an inclusive and development oriented broadband for all. In essence, this is a warning that we must ensure that the benefits of our ICT Technological Revolution do not sideline our humanity. from the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT), the ITU regional office in Bangkok, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), among others, and also from our development partners. This is indeed a most important role. Firstly, it reminds us to give due consideration to the appropriate tech-nologies and costs for both the rich and the poor, the In September 2009, to quote only one example, our most distant island of Niuatoputapu was hit by a deadly tsunami. Due to technical difficulties and limi-tations, Developed and Developing Nations, and to both the world population centres as well as the isolated nations. It also reminds us that technology is man’s tool and not his master, and that it must always be human friendly. Fortunately, Your Excellencies, I am certain that you will agree with me, that these are indeed the very principles which continuously inspire the hearts of our national leaders and administrators, such as your honoured pres-ence both radio and telephone communication with this island were disrupted. Fortunately, due to the ITU’s disaster mitigation programme, equipment which they had sent and had been installed in this Island, enabled their telephone communication with the other islands of Tonga as well as their relatives overseas. here today. And thus we are indeed well equipped to also address this most important challenge. Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, as brevity is the order of this most important World Conference, may I and my delegation, on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, now wish you Mr. Chairman, the Secretary General of the ITU and the Secretariat, the esteemed national delegations from the ITU Member States, and indeed the Government and the people of Mexico, a most successful outcome to our Conference and a safe journey home. Tonga’s ICT goal is: “To improve sector performance to ensure domestic and global connectivity throughout the Kingdom and to improve the quality of life, geo-graphic coverage service, affordability, and access to new service application.” In line with these objectives, may I note that within the first five years of implementing this policy, the tariff for almost all of the ICT services in Tonga dropped by more than 200 per cent. At the same time, the teledensity of mobile phones and Internet users also dramatically rose by 300 per cent. These statistics clearly testify that the benefits of ICT have indeed enriched the lives of the peo-ple I thank you all for your kind indulgence. Tu’a ‘ofa atu. of Tonga, and will continue to do so in the future. Technically, all of these outcomes have been based on Tonga’s full dependence on satellite based communi-cation. The Government of Tonga, however, is now in the course of negotiating for the construction of ca-ble 73