COOK ISLANDS KIA ORANA Greetings from the Cook Islands

Where are we???

Cook Islands 15 Islands with only 12 inhabited. Ocean area of 2.0 Million sq. Km. Total land area of 240 sq. Km. Population: 14,000 and declining. Tourism the major Industry. Predominately Polynesian people

Cook Islands National Development Strategy Drafted National Information Infrastructure plan in 1998 Unfortunately not actioned. Government is making a huge effort to develop a Sustainable National Strategy Plan ICT Development currently being lead by private sector (Telecom)

Cook Islands National ICT Policy ICT committee formed in 2003 ICT Policy endorsed by Cabinet March 2004 Five main Goals incorporated in the Policy

Cook Islands National ICT Policy Goals Goal 1 Quality of Life through ICT Goal 2 National Access for All Goal 3 Maximising Economic Growth Through ICT Goal 4 Sustainable Development of ICT Goal 5 ICT Policy and Legislation

ICT Legislation Relevant Acts Copywrite Act 1947 Broadcasting Act 1989 Telecommunications Act 1989 Media Bill Freedom of Information Bill

ICT Legislation Development Need for ICT Legislation to prevent abuse and provide Governance: DCITA assistance with ITU involvement Two Pilot countries - Cook Islands & Tonga Draft Media Bill Freedom of Information Bill

Broadcasting Two private radio stations One private free to air TV channel on Rarotonga only DTH Pay Television system with 5 channels Cook Islands National Broadcasting Corporation re-established Plan to install satellite based FM radio service for the outer islands

Telecommunications Full telecommunications services provided by Telecom Cook Islands Ltd. who have an exclusive licence Outer islands services provided by satellite (10 satellite Earth Stations for 14,000 people) using Frame Relay bearers Every village in Cook Islands has access to IDD telephone and fax services 84% occupied dwellings have a telephone

Telecommunications Cont. 3,231 cellphone users (23% of population) 1432 dial up Internet customers (10% of population) A number of business have a permanent Internet access plan Every village in Cook Islands has access to IDD telephone and fax services 84% occupied dwellings have a telephone 47 telephones per 100 population

ICT Infrastructure Every village in the Cook Islands has access to dial up Internet Every village except three have a television service Radio broadcasting services to the northern group weak but plan to improve

Developing ICT Infrastructure Cost of development and providing services in small Pacific Island countries not appreciated International Internet access expensive Lack of economy of scale

Applications EduNet TeleHealth Government Web site Border control

Human Resource Development Most difficult for a small Pacific Island Employment of Expatriates Very limited skill based from which to recruit Outer islands even more difficult Limited training available Urgent need for System Administrators UNDP project to assist

Problems faced Lack of people and this is declining Lack of advanced IT skills TCI providing pipes but skills to implement applications lacking High costs Lack of practical Applications

Conclusion The Cook Islands is a very small developing island Nation with very limited resources. While the Cook Islands have good penetration, we still have problems, particularly in HR areas. High cost to provide services

Kia Manuia Thank you for your attention