FEATURE STORY November 4, 2019

Pacific Islands: Harnessing the transformative power of digital connectivity

Spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, the islands of the South Pacific are significantly more connected than they were a decade ago. Some of these islands are still hard to access, some requiring a day or two of travel. Today, because of the digital revolution these islands are accessible by just a few clicks on your computer or smartphone. Digital revolution has brought great changes, some positive and some negative. But what does the future look like for the Pacific Islands in the next decade?

Future Pasifika, a partnership between the University of the South Pacific (USP), the World Bank and its sister organization, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is a platform for thought leaders to share ideas on how the Pacific can collaborate to tackle the big issues facing this unique and vulnerable region.

In October 2019, the second Future Pasifika event was held at the USP in Suva, where a panel of information communications technology (ICT) experts discussed various issues on digital connectivity.

“There’s no doubt that the Pacific has moved forward in leaps and bounds on the ICT front since the 1990s – one just has to look at the growth in Facebook memberships in the region or consider that many are tuning into this discussion via a livestream,” said World Bank Resident Representative for the South Pacific, Lasse Melgaard.

“The World Bank Group is really proud to have been there from early on, and to be working with so many governments and businesses across the region to deliver connectivity that is affordable and reliable, including in some of the most remote parts of the Pacific.”

“From mobile money, to sending remittances and bringing in electronic payment systems, we’ve seen the use of digital technology help people in the Pacific overcome the disadvantages of distance,” said IFC’s Resident Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, Deva De Silva. “Continuing to harness the power of technology and innovation can deliver more opportunity for more people.”

Cables as a lifeline

Naibuka Saune from Fijian telco leader Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) said the role of international financial institutions such as the World Bank, IFC and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had played an important role in the connectivity of the region. These institutions, he said, helped the private sector when it encountered challenges.

The World Bank’s Digital Development Specialist, Shivnesh Prasad, said one of the key challenges in the Pacific was that populations were scattered.

“Cables in this context are a lifeline, as investment into satellite technology is expensive,” Prasad said. “The cable systems in the Pacific have now reduced the cost of doing business and have encouraged competition, and ultimately the uptake of technology.”

"There’s no doubt that the Pacific has moved forward in leaps and bounds on the ICT front since the 1990s – one just has to look at the growth in Facebook memberships in the region or consider that many are tuning into this discussion via a livestream."

Lasse Melgaard

World Bank Resident Representative for the South Pacific

Future Pasifika panelists (L-R) Shivnesh Prasad, Crystal Kewe, moderator Stanley Simpson, Anjeela Jokhan and Naibuka Saune.

ICT as a tool, not a master

Deregulation has allowed greater competition and service improvements across the region, according to Prasad. In Fiji and other markets in the region, deregulation has meant cheaper call rates, competitive data bundles and generally an improvement in services.

ATH’s Naibuka Saune agreed, emphasizing the new opportunities technology has brought to the region.

“Digital connectivity can aid our lives and make them better,” said Saune. “The idea is to make sure we control it, as opposed to being controlled.”

Panelist Crystal Kewe, the 22-year old co-founder and CEO of Crysan Technology – a Port Moresby-based software company she started with her father at age 15 – went further, reflecting that the Pacific needed to take a Pacific approach to the way it adopts and adapts to technology.

“Technology is a terrible master, but a wonderful servant,” said Kewe. “As much as we want to promote this digital revolution in the Pacific, it’s important we don’t lose our Pacific Way as it’s what differentiates us from the rest of the world”.

Crystal Kewe is also the entrepreneur behind ‘Biluminous’, a regional platform for Asia-Pacific artisans of traditional handicrafts that won two APEC Awards in 2018.

Building human capacity

To maximize on the opportunities and benefits realized because of the digital revolution, education and literacy is critical. USP’s Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, Anjeela Jokhan believes that we are not equipping children from a young age to make maximum use of technology today.

“We do run the risk of technology not having the education along with it, meaning we are exposed to quite significant dangers. Cybersecurity is one, but also ICT taking over parenting, schooling, and socializing. So, we just need to create those boundaries in our communities and the region.”

Her point was further emphasized by Crystal Kewe, who stressed the need to ensure technology was not the center of people’s lives.

“There’s tremendous opportunities for the Pacific and it can contribute to driving rapid growth and expansions in industries and all levels of society.

“It’s important we don’t lose our Pacific way in the process of doing that.”

Watch the recorded event at https://live.worldbank.org/future-pasifika-digital-connectivity, and continue the conversation on Twitter via #FuturePasifika. Follow us on Facebook for updates at www.facebook.com/worldbankpacific.