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GABASPOT – Digital Inclusion

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GABASPOT

Gaina Vere, a person living with disability has made a name for himself in his community of Gabagaba to transform his village into a digital hub.

Located in Central province, though a few kilometres outside of Port Moresby, Gabagaba still faces internet connectivity issues.

In partnership with the National Information and Community Technology Authority (NICTA) Mr. Vere’s ambition was assisted through the UAS (Universal Access Service) Connect Community Project.

Known as the Go and Be A Smart Person on Technology (Gabaspot) Digital Hub, that uses Kacific Ka-band service is anticipated provide internet services to more than 5,000 people including students.

Wife of Gaina Vere, Dairi Vere, who read the speech prepared by her husband said Mr. Vere’s vision is to create a smart village and transform Gabagaba into a village where the people are digitally literate.

“This is breaking the barrier in bridging the gap especially those of us living in rural areas. The building will become the community digital centre and will be known as Gabaspot Digital Hub,” said Mrs. Vere.

On behalf of her husband said Mrs. Vere said Gabaspot will work with NICTA to run community the network as a pilot project.

“The object is to provide the best digital service in the community, which is cost effective and affordable to the people, creating digital pathways for training opportunities and empowering the community through digital means,” said Mrs. Vere.

ICT Minister, Timothy Masiu said the launch of the community project in Gabagaba is a symbol of the government’s commitment towards digital inclusion.

“The UAS policy provides us with the guiding framework, and we must evolve it to embrace the roll-out of the Smart Village Concept across our nation “, said minister Masiu.

ICT Minister Timothy Masiu addressing the gathering.

He said the Smart village concept was recently endorsed in the Pacific ICT Minister’s dialogue where the ministers signed the Lakatoi Declaration

“I am pleased to announce that we are partnering with the International Telecommunication Union to introduce Grassroots Digital Services. This collaboration will allows us to tap into Global Expertise and resources to allow us to life our own communities,’ said Masiu.

Top Stories: https://insidepng.com/

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COMMUNICATION SUPPORT

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Satellite phones will be used to improve communications between Buka and communities impacted by Mt. Bagana eruption, strong winds and rain.

Five satellite phones from National Information Communication and Telecommunication Authority or NICTA were given to the Disaster Office in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as part of continued disaster relief exercise.

Chairman of NICTA Board, Noel Mobiha said this is the first time NICTA has come on board to support government department’s response to disaster.

South Bougainville MP who heads the Information Communication and Technology portfolio, Timothy Masiu said the satellite phones were given by NICTA with support of International Telecommunications Unit (ITU).

Communication Support by NICTA and Starlink

Masiu said the Star Link satellite services will also be deployed pending regulatory processes by NICTA and Digicel PNG will also support by strengthening network coverage at Torokina and South Bougainville

The loaned service will be used for three months on Bougainville and the satellite phones will be returned to NICTA for other emergency response in other parts of the country.

“NICTA is looking at improving communications infrastructure and services to support the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) for real time data transmission,” said Masiu.

A team from RVOC was also in Buka last week to assist. The observatory has deployed monitoring devices but need strong communications network for real time relay of information to the RVO Base in Rabaul.

SOE Controller, Esther Usurup thanked NICTA and Mr Masiu for the communication equipment and services that will come as this was urgently needed .

Masiu also announced that a K100,000 funding from his electorate will be given to support the Disaster office specifically for the Emergency Team to continue relief assistance to South Bougainville.

Communication Support

For more stories on the Mt Bagana disaster relief efforts click the links below for our other stories.

Related: SOE Extended

https://insidepng.com/soe-extended/

Bagana Assistance

https://insidepng.com/bagana-assistance/

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Education

FODE SERVICES TO USE ONLINE PLATFORM

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A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed between the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) and the National Education Department, which signifies a partnership to roll out Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) services using online platform.

This MOA comes as a result of a successful trial run by the Education Department on the Web Based School and Learning Management System earlier this year.

From this result the DoE reached out to NICTA through its Universal Access and Services Scheme, which exist to promote long term socio-economic development in PNG.

This MOA has come about extending this Service throughout the country.

The pilot project will be trialed in six locations, targeting 3,700 students at an estimated cost of K600 000, for a period of two years.

Centers to be trialed out include NCD, Central, Daru, Lae, Goroka and Tari Town.

The Project will be jointly funded by the Universal Access Fund which is administered by the UAS Scheme and DoE.

Through this agreement, NICTA will be responsible for content digitalization, broadband connectivity, training and smart devices, while the Education Department will be responsible for Information Technology Audit, Infrastructure, power, skill staff, administration, security and sustainability plan of the project.

With the governments motto of leaving no one behind, the education department through its Fode has been providing second chance to many drop outs, in the form of upgrades and standards Curriculum using Fode.

This project will provide access to students who cannot have access to formal education due to limited space, low grade point Average (GPA) or work commitment.

This also paves way for more efficient, cost effective mechanism in contrast to the traditional method of delivering FODE materials through hard copies of papers in large volumes to all centers in the country.

Read More: https://insidepng.com/ktf-strengthens-partnership-for-2023/

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