Soldiers get new computers

Security operations during the Apec Leaders’ Summit in November can be more reliable and efficient with the right equipment, says a Defence Force unit commander.
He was referring to five computers worth K17,000 donated by DataCo to the first Battalion Royal Pacific Islands Regiment on Friday.
Lt Col Boniface Aruma said the donation would go a long way to enhance the unit’s preparations and participation during the summit.
The unit will support the joint security taskforce during the leaders’ summit in Port Moresby.
“Preparations and training leading up to the summit began late last year but as we were approaching November, we realised that we did not have computers for the overview of our operations especially in terms of communication,” he said.
He said they decided to seek help outside the government sector and DataCo responded positively.
“The computers will be used within the unit to help run our operations for Apec and also to run various training to empower and prepare our soldiers to become efficient in their jobs.” Aruma said.
He said Apec was an important part of the history of a young country like PNG and he emphasised that it was important that security support was in place. “With DataCo’s support, it will go a long way in ensuring that we get our communications right with the ability to command, control and monitor the troops on the ground so that we give that added confidence to our partners.” Boniface said.
He said if PNG was to host a significant event in the future, we could count on the success of Apec 2018.
DataCo’s general manager, commercial, Une O’ome said they understood that communication was a key component of any security operation and as an ICT wholesale service provider DataCo believed that through the donation, we could “help you improve communications to provide better security for the summit”.