By RACHNA LAL
International Telecommunications Union Secretary General, Dr Hamadoun Touré, has praised Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama’s support for the organisation’s work.
Dr Touré acknowledged this in his address to the High Level Forum on South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Investing in Broadband in New York, USA.
He praised Commodore Bainimarama in his address as “one of the ITU’s strongest supporters in its work to expand access to broadband and Internet services to all people.”
The meeting is one of several being held during the period of the United Nations General Assembly.
It brings together political leaders and technical experts concerned with extending broadband’s reach throughout the developing world.
Government’s initiatives
Commodore Bainimarama told this United Nations gathering that his Government is empowering its people through broadband access, ending isolation and opening up the advantages of the digital age throughout the country.
He recounted what he termed “an extraordinary revolution” taking place in Fiji as more and more of the country gains access to affordable broadband.
“Whatever the marvels of the technology involved, it is the positive effect on the lives of our people that makes Fiji an illuminating case study,” he said.
“There are millions of such people across the world who require our assistance to bring them affordable access to Broadband – to increase their opportunities, improve their lives and make them a global citizen.
“We must connect them, empower them, bring them the digital revolution as a fundamental cornerstone of our collective and holistic effort to achieve our Millennium Development Goals.”
Advice based on experience
Commodore Bainimarama offered practical advice based on Fiji’s experience.
He urged nations embarking on a broadband development programme to make broadband affordable, encourage competition, develop a partnership between Government and the private sector.
Commodore Bainimarama further encouraged for a fair, efficient and transparent regulatory framework to be instituted and have zero tolerance for corruption, especially when it comes to spectrum allocation.
“The competition we’ve created has driven down the cost of connectivity,” he said.
“And we’ve worked hard to remove systemic corruption and inefficiency in telecommunications, just as we have in the country as a whole.”