Communication opportunities for Pacific Island Countries and
Territories
Digital Strategy Update
• PACRICS status (Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System)
• SPIN update (South Pacific Information Network)
• OLPC plan (One Laptop per Child)
Phill Hardstaff – Acting IT Manager – Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Noumea – New Caledonia
The Pacific Community
What is SPC ?• Established in 1947, SPC is an advisory, training
and research institution.• A total of 370 staff – 220 in Noumea – 100 in Suva,
Fiji - 50 in other countries.• Land Resources (Agriculture and Forestry)• Marine Resources (Coastal Fisheries - Maritime
(Suva) - Oceanic Fisheries)• Social Resources (Human Development - Public
Health - Statistics and Demography - Regional Media Centre (Suva)
• A budget of CFP 5 billion (USD 60 million) in 2008
Pacific Plan – Digital Strategy Background• 5 priorities in ICTs for the region to be addressed through the
Pacific Plan Digital strategy.1. improving access to communications technology
particularly to and from rural and remote areas2. Reducing costs of ICTs3. establishing higher bandwidth to the global ICT
‘backbone’4. removing inappropriate regulatory environments
in order to foster higher levels of investment5. Strengthen HR capacity to apply and use ICT
Source – Summary outcome : Forum ICT Ministers Meeting, Wellington, March 06
The ICT Technologies
• Satellite – AMC 23, dedicated Pacific Hub : Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System (PACRICS). Now GE 23 satellite.
• Submarine cable – South Pacific Information Network (SPIN)
• One Laptop per Child (OLPC)
Pacific RICS Project objectives• Connect rural and remote communities in Pacific
Island countries and contribute to economic development.
• Establish 16 pilot sites across region.
• Demonstrate the utility and financial sustainability of the provision of low-cost, relatively high speed Internet access to rural and remote communities throughout the Pacific region.
Pilot Countries
1. Cook Islands
2. Kiribati (2)
3. FSM
4. French Polynesia
5. Marshall Islands
6. Nauru
7. Papua New Guinea (2)
8. Samoa
9. Solomon Islands (2)
10. Tokelau
11. Tuvalu
12. Tonga
13. Vanuatu
Pacific SkyEdge HubInitial Bandwidth guaranteed for 2 yearsWith coverage over all Pacific Islands
PACRICS – Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System
Features and Sustainability
RICS Hub can support up to 35,000 remote RICS sites
100 operational sites sustainable goal
PACRICS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Costs – 16 pilot sites funded through PACRICS
• VSAT SkyEdge Pro, 4 LAN Ports, 1 phone port, 1.2 meter dish – USD $ 3,600
• Solar Power Unit – 200w panel capacity 300 amp Hour battery capacity Solar systems (if required) can be bought from your local supplier
• Training for local installers – completed for pilot countries (Step-by-step procedures with pictures)
• Pilot Site Community – Foundation for 1.2 m satellite dish
• Service Level Agreements – SPC and Pactel responsible for all sites
PACRICS OPERATIONAL Costs
OPEX for RICS SkyEdge VSAT Terminal Main OPEX factor = monthly fee for Satellite access & Data throughput (for “always on” ADSL comparable services)
PROPOSED UNIVERSAL SERVICE COSTS:
• 128 kbits download/64 kbits upload - Approx USD 200/month
• 256 kbits download/128 kbits upload – Approx. USD 350/month
• 384 kbits download/128 kbits upload – Approx. USD 495/month
• 512 kbits download/256 kbits upload – Ap prox. USD620/month
First 100 Sites – will be subsidized by Pacific RICS for 2 years
1st Pilot Site Launch of Pacific RICSSaturday 3rd May 2008
• Gaire Community – Central province, PNG located an hour's drive southeast of Port Moresby and home to about 2500 people– VSAT, ‘Network in a box’ [ISI box]– Provides opportunities for broad-band internet access to the
community at fast & affordable rates– A hub for One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative
• Partnership between Government (Dept of Information Communication); Private sector (PNG Telikom); Gaire Community; ISI.NC; PIFS; SPC under the Pacific Plan Digital Strategy.
Impact of PACRICS: Multiplies connectivityPilot Site at Patukae College; Marovo Lagoon, Solomon
Islands, will provide access to 9 Schools ; I health clinic 16 villages; 1 resort; 6 small businesses.
Patukae College RICSWestern province, Solomon Islands
Toa Marovo peak – proposed access point proposed for all Sites
Patukae College Pilot of OLPCs
Other Impacts of PACRICSSpeeds up Policy & regulatory reforms
For example, in Kiribati:•New Regulation now allows granting of license to other ISPs•PacTel (company contracted to manage PACRICS) granted a license to operate in Kiribati•PACRICS now available at much lower price•TAK helping schools to connect.
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Existing cables and on-going projects in South Pacific region
VANUATU
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• APNG2• PIPE NETWORKS• AJC•TELSTRA• SOUTHERN CROSS• PAC RIM EAST
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Gondwana
Nouméa - Sydney cable
VANUATU
Port Vila
• OPT NC cable called « Gondwana »• 2.151 km between Nouméa and Sydney• 1 pair of fiber • Capacity max of 64x10 Gbits• System in service since September 2008
TONGA
FUTUNA
NORFOLK
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Tahiti - Hawaii cable
VANUATU
Port Vila
• OPT PF cable called « Honotua »• 4.650 km between Tahiti and Hawaii• 1 pair of fiber • Capacity max of 64x10 Gbits• System under implementation• In service by Q1 2010
TONGA
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Tels
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SPIN cable
VANUATU
Port Vila
• SPIN cable• 6.500 km between Nouméa and Tahiti• Landing points in Norfolk, Wallis, Am. Samoa and Niue• 2 pairs of fiber (1 express + 1 omnibus) • Capacity max of 64x10 Gbits• Expected date of commissioning : 2nd half 2010
TONGA
FUTUNA
Tels
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NORFOLK
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Papeete
To Hawaii
Sydney
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PIPE
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Suva
Gondwana
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Other potential landing points
VANUATU
Port Vila
• Vanuatu - Port Vila• Fiji - Suva• Samoa - Apia• Tonga - Nukualofa• Cook Islands - Rarotonga
TONGA
FUTUNA
Tels
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NORFOLK
Tentative time scheduleQ2-08 Q3-08 Q4-08 Q1-09 Q2-09 Q3-09 Q4-09 Q1-10 Q2-10 Q3-10 Q4-10
Vendor selection and contract signature scheduled end of 2008
Financing finalization
Marine survey
Cable manufacturing
SPIN cable implementation
Noumea - Sydney link in service by September 1st
Tahiti - Hawaii link in service
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SPIN open tender launched in June
SPIN launching
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And after SPIN ?
Sydney
Hawaii
Tahiti Arica• Tahiti - Valparaiso link • 7750 Km
Tokyo
Guam
Lurin
Valparaiso
Panama
Mazatian
Puerto San Jose
California
Rapa Nui
Saliras
Nouméa
Auckland • Nouméa - Norfolk - Auckland link• 2500 Km
Madang
Cook Isl.
Niue
Am. Samoa
SamoaWallis
Tonga
FijiVanuatu
Norfolk
équateur
Honiara
• Port Vila – Honiara – Madang link • 3250 Km
One Laptop Per Child Oceania Project update
•5,000 OLPC units gifted by OLPC Boston for a Pacific-wide pilot in all PICTs
•PNG leading the charge on OLPCs with recent announcement aiming to launch a US$58 million
initiative •Evaluation of impact OLPCs will be
commissioned •Good feedback of early impact
Visit OLPC wiki website
•http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Oceania•OLPC Oceania describes OLPC activities in the Islands of the Pacific (excluding New Zealand and Australia)
Teachers and students with OLPC laptops at Patukae
Bridging the communication divide - through Appropriate Technology
Thank You for listening