Telecommunications and IT in Pacific Islands development

Abstract

This article examines the impact and implications of telecommunications and information technologies against the backdrop of development aspirations in three ‘representative’ Pacific Island nations—the Cook Islands, Republic of Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. These three countries represent a wide range of development potential—from the relatively mature, export economy of Fiji; to the resource‐rich Papua New Guinea; and tourism‐dependent Cook Islands—as well as provide a sampling of the divergent approaches to development and the perceived role that technology is expected to play. This article specifically focuses on the broad social, economic, and political impact of recent telecommunications developments. Such developments are considered in the light of each country's individual development programmes and their common desire to increase their respective participation in the global economy. It is argued that if development aspirations are to be realized, respective national telecommunication policies must a...