ITC Policy and Practice in the Fiji Islands

Abstract

Since the establishment of Internet access in the Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1995, Internet policy has been developed in the country in the context of both national and regional development. Fiji has a significant tourism sector —15% of GDP in 2003 (Fiji Tourism Forum, 2003)—and Web-based information is an increasingly important source for potential visitors. The country also aspires to lead digital commerce in the region. In August 2004 the Qarese government affirmed its commitment to the “Bangkok Agenda Action Plan on Broadband and Information, Communication & Technology (ICT) development” (Bangkok Agenda Action Plan, 2004), an agreement calling for government action at a national, sub-regional and regional levels to encourage broadband access and usage. In addition to having one of the largest economies in the South Pacific, Fiji is host nation to a number of regional inter-governmental agencies, and this combination of national and regional interests is driving the rapid elaboration of ICT policy and utilization.