For Immediate Release
Press Release
Suva, Fiji – The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting a series of webinars for ICT experts to spark dialogue on bridging the digital divide in the Pacific by deploying low cost and fast launch satellite solutions to connect remote and underserved communities.
USAID’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) – Pacific project, in partnership with the USAID Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) project, organized a series of webinars for ICT specialists from government, the private sector, and higher education to engage with satellite providers and experts from the Asia Pacific region to discuss the challenges and opportunities of deploying Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in the Pacific.
“LEO satellite projects can provide solutions to bridge the digital divide as they are capable of supporting strong internet connection across remote and isolated areas. They can better connect inaccessible regions where traditional communications infrastructure struggle to reach,” said USAID Pacific Islands Acting General Development Officer Roger Sydney.
“In addition to boosting connectivity possibilities for people living in remote and underserved communities, this technology will support climate resilience in the region,” he said.
“During and after natural disasters when telecommunications infrastructure on the ground are damaged, satellite connectivity helps re-establish communications and support disaster response,” said Sydney.
Participants also identified opportunities where LEO satellite technology could be deployed in the Pacific.
“The U.S. government through USAID’s DCCP – Pacific and the BEACON project aims to improve access to affordable and secure digital connectivity in the region through innovative means but solutions that are locally sought and owned,” said Sydney.
He said these priorities align with the vision laid out by Pacific leaders in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“The webinar looked at current projects and explored potential approaches to introduce and trial LEO satellite services to address existing and persistent digital divide challenges across Pacific Islands Countries,” said USAID DCCP– Pacific Chief of Party Anju Mangal.
“We are looking for partnerships to develop a feasibility study to deploy LEO satellite technology in the Pacific,” said Mangal.
“The Webinar was attended by companies and agencies that are operating LEO satellites to understand the challenges and opportunities of deploying LEO constellations in the Pacific,” she said.