ITU-T Regional Workshop on
Bridging the Standardization Gap and Interactive Training Session
(Nadi, Fiji, 4 – 6 July 2011 )
Ronald Box
Chief Executive Officer
Telecommunication Authority of Fiji
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Fiji Statistics
Current Situation in Fiji
Challenges
Regulatory Challenges
Standardization Challenges
Thoughts to leave you with
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
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Total land area 18,333 sq.km
Two major islands: Viti Levu & Vanua
Levu
Population of approx. 838,000
Fiji : 330 islands; of which One Third are inhabited
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
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Fixed telephone lines
Country 2000
Fiji 86,400
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 -11
92,222 97,515 102,023 105,000 112,493 115,000 121,845 129,100 136,782 129,845
Fixed telephone lines per 100 inhabitants
Country 2000 2001 2002
Fiji 10.78
Fixed internet subscription
11.42
12.00
2003
12.48
2004
12.76
2005
13.59
2006
13.80
2007
14.53
2008
15.30
2009
16.11
2010 -11
15.50
2004
11,000
2005
13,300
2006
10,677
2007
13,681
2008
15,713
2009
15,499
2010 -11
15,752
Country 2000 2001 2002
Fiji 3,500 5,500 7,600
Fixed internet subscription per 100 inhabitants
2003
9,000
Country 2000 2001
Fiji 0.44
0.68
Fixed broadband internet subscription
2002
0.94
2003
1.10
Country
Fiji
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
Fixed broadband internet subscription per 100 inhabitants
2004
2004
1.34
0
2005
2005
1.61
7,000
2006
2006
1.28
2,788
2007
2007
1.65
10,495
2008
2008
1.87
13,031
2009
2009
1.85
12,830
2010 -11
1.88
2010 - 11
23,250
Country
Fiji
2000
0.00
2001
0.00
Fixed telephone service provider
Telecom Fiji Limited
2002
0.00
2003
Fixed Internet Service Provider - Dial-up & Broadband
0.00
Kidanet
Telecom Fiji Limited / Connect Fiji Limited
Unwired Fiji
The 2010 - 2011 statistics are at 30th June 2011
2004
0.00
2005
0.85
2006
1.02
2007
1.37
2008
1.85
2009
2.47
2010 - 11
2.77
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
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Mobile cellular subscription
Country 2000
Fiji 55,057
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 - 11
80,933 89,900 109,882 142,190 205,000 284,661 530,048 600,000 640,000 697920
Mobile cellular subscription per 100 inhabitants
Country 2000 2001 2002
Fiji 6.87
10.02
Mobile broadband internet subscription
11.06
2003
13.44
2004
17.28
2005
24.76
2006
34.16
2007
63.20
2008
71.09
2009
75.36
2010 - 11
69.46
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
2006
0
2007
0
2008
729
2009 2010 - 11
7,069 135,000
Country 2000 2001 2002
Fiji 0 0 0
Mobile internet subscription per 100 inhabitants
Country 2000 2001 2002
Fiji 0.00
0.00
0.00
Public cellular mobile telephone service provider *
Digicel Fiji Limited
Inkk Mobile
Vodafone Fiji Limited
2003
0.00
2004
0.00
2005
0.00
2006
0.00
2007
0.00
2008
0.09
2009
0.83
2010 - 11
16.12
* Account needs to be taken that there is an approx. 20% dual subscription.
Mobile internet service provider - Broadband
Digicel Fiji Limited
Vodafone Fiji Limited
The 2010 - 2011 statistics are at 30th June 2011
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
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Currently:
- TFL Offering : Fixed lines telephone services & internet service
- FINTEL : International gateway services, & internet services
- VFL : Public cellular mobile telephone system & internet services
- Digicel : Public cellular mobile telephone system & internet services
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Must have a ‘big picture’ focus & cater for Fijian needs & prosperity
The “Going Mobile” future – & finding, providing adequate spectrum challenge
Fixed line services dying – reliance on & provision of declining rapidly
Regulating for effective competition, public benefit
& with the interest of consumers a priority
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Convergence of Services – how will industry/regulators meet the challenges to service public need & demand?
The increasing reliance on telecommunications for essential services; eg: medical, commerce, banking, purchases, communication (internet), information
From Capacity to Connectivity – Network access & interconnection
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

From availability to use – Universal access & service, developing community wide digital literacy
A Digital Future – Regulatory challenges in a brave new world: privacy, security & neutrality
On-going regulatory role – TAF to be around for a long, long, time
Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
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A Small Island Developing State (SIDS) with high aims but difficulties of achieving that with population & revenue limitations,
& wide-spread geography
Wants to be a "regional telecommunication hub,“ - & positioning itself to do so
This has been highlighted in Telecom
Promulgation 2008 as one of the Minister’s responsibilities
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

But - how to achieve this & where to start from?
Many questions to ask; including how to achieve universal access?
Fiji is 2 nd largest market in the South
Pacific Island Group
Telecommunications services will be the key driver of economic growth for Fiji
The future is in Mobile
Consumer empowerment is the key driver
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

So much needed so soon
Competing priorities so need a prioritised approach
Moving to the "new" world of regulation/liberalisation instead incumbency provision of services
Focus on most pressing issues
Critical need for effective communication with all stakeholders: industry players, MoC, FCC, Consumer
Council & MoI(NALS)
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Who to draw from?
ITU & APT can assist greatly
How to participate? Tyranny of distance
How to get a national view? Wide spread geography
How to be effective internationally?
Need to have a Pacific wide or at least a
Pacific Country voice & view
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Efficient & effective way is to participate in APT regional meetings & targeted ITU meetings
Make as much use of on-line services as possible - but how to find it in the first place? (TAF currently is a good (bad) example - very difficult to find out about as we do not yet have a website
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

When TAF’s website established, how will stakeholders - and particularly consumers/users know? TAF has to be a communicative organisation
Use of Regional Forums
Regional cooperation a must. One SID can not go it alone!
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Can standards (really) motivate growth and universal access in an island nation such as Fiji?
If so, how? Welcome your thoughts
Is there experience in other parts of the world that we can learn from?
Manufacturers have always played a key role in standards-making, so are there regional manufacturers who are keen to test new technologies in our markets?
Could this lead to new standards being evolved?
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

Fiji can not afford to set up elaborate testing facilities.
We adopt an “attestation” form of technical standards (adopt/recognise)
But how do we chose the standards that will serve our market best?
Some standards may in fact limit the ability of some regional manufacturers to bid on systems here, & thus, would inhibit innovation & growth.
How do we ensure that this doesn’t happen?
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Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011

I don’t have all the answers to some of these questions – very challenging
Encourage you to assist me with your advice during this session (or out of hours)?
Thought/possibility to leave you with:

Nadi, Fiji, 4-6 July 2011
Why not use Fiji as a test bed and test market for emerging standards?
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