cook islands kia orana greetings from the cook islands
TRANSCRIPT
COOK ISLANDS
KIA ORANA
Greetings from the Cook Islands
Where are we???
Cook Islands
• 15 Islands with only 12 inhabited.
• Ocean area of 2.0 Million sq. Km.
• Total land area of 240 sq. Km.
• Population: 14,000 and declining.
• Tourism the major Industry.
• Predominately Polynesian people
Cook Islands National Development Strategy
• Drafted National Information Infrastructure plan in 1998
• Unfortunately not actioned.• Government is making a huge effort to
develop a Sustainable National Strategy Plan• ICT Development currently being lead by
private sector (Telecom)
Cook Islands National ICT Policy
• ICT committee formed in 2003
• ICT Policy endorsed by Cabinet March 2004
• Five main Goals incorporated in the Policy
Cook Islands National ICT Policy Goals
Goal 1Quality of Life through ICT
Goal 2National Access for All
Goal 3Maximising Economic Growth Through ICT
Goal 4Sustainable Development of ICT
Goal 5ICT Policy and Legislation
ICT Legislation
Relevant Acts• Copywrite Act 1947• Broadcasting Act 1989• Telecommunications Act 1989• Media Bill • Freedom of Information Bill
ICT Legislation Development
Need for ICT Legislation to prevent abuse and provide Governance:• DCITA assistance with ITU involvement• Two Pilot countries - Cook Islands & Tonga• Draft Media Bill• Freedom of Information Bill
Broadcasting
• Two private radio stations• One private free to air TV channel on Rarotonga only• DTH Pay Television system with 5 channels• Cook Islands National Broadcasting Corporation re-
established• Plan to install satellite based FM radio service for the
outer islands
Telecommunications• Full telecommunications services provided by Telecom
Cook Islands Ltd. who have an exclusive licence• Outer islands services provided by satellite (10 satellite
Earth Stations for 14,000 people) using Frame Relay bearers
• Every village in Cook Islands has access to IDD telephone and fax services
• 84% occupied dwellings have a telephone
Telecommunications Cont.• 3,231 cellphone users (23% of population)• 1432 dial up Internet customers (10% of population)• A number of business have a permanent Internet access
plan• Every village in Cook Islands has access to IDD telephone
and fax services• 84% occupied dwellings have a telephone
• 47 telephones per 100 population
ICT Infrastructure
• Every village in the Cook Islands has access to dial up Internet
• Every village except three have a television service
• Radio broadcasting services to the northern group weak but plan to improve
Developing ICT Infrastructure
• Cost of development and providing services in small Pacific Island countries not appreciated
• International Internet access expensive
• Lack of economy of scale
Applications
• EduNet
• TeleHealth
• Government Web site
• Border control
Human Resource Development
• Most difficult for a small Pacific Island• Employment of Expatriates• Very limited skill based from which to recruit• Outer islands even more difficult• Limited training available• Urgent need for System Administrators• UNDP project to assist
Problems faced
• Lack of people and this is declining• Lack of advanced IT skills• TCI providing pipes but skills to implement
applications lacking• High costs • Lack of practical Applications
Conclusion
• The Cook Islands is a very small developing island Nation with very limited resources.
• While the Cook Islands have good penetration, we still have problems, particularly in HR areas.
• High cost to provide services
Kia Manuia
Thank you for your attention