Basil highlights challenges

ACCESS to information and communications technology (ICT) services and infrastructure remains one of the biggest challenges in the country, says National Panning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil.
Basil made these remarks during the opening of National Information Communications Technology Authority’s (Nicta) new office, the “Punaha ICT Haus,” in Port Moresby on Friday.
He said there was a call to member economies to harness inclusive opportunities and embrace a digital future when the country hosted the Apec Leaders’ Summit last year.
“This is a call for digital transformation, to strive towards engaging a digital economy and a digital government,” Basil said. “For PNG, transformation starts with having the required infrastructure that enables good connectivity across the country for us to effectively engage in digital economy and digital government.”
Basil said majority of people in the remote parts of the country remained unconnected.
“This challenge of connecting the unconnected must and needs to be addressed on multiple fronts,” he said.
“This is to ensure that the government’s policy direction on access, affordability, fast and reliable ICT services is realised.”
Baisl urged the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) such as the Kumul Telikom Holdings Ltd to get to task.