Digicel Fiji said that it has signed a universal service obligation (USO) contract with the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) to deploy mobile and digital connectivity services to underserved communities in the Lau group.
Under the project – which is being carried out by Digicel Fiji, TAF, and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) – the contract includes provisions for deploying robust infrastructure in the remote archipelago, to include integrating government-led satellite Wi-Fi infrastructure backhauled by Starlink’s LEO satellite network to provide more comprehensive coverage in the island group.
The USO contract also includes requirements for service level agreements (SLAs) for services reliant on external satellite infrastructure.
Located in eastern Fiji, the Lau group comprises around 60 islands, though only half are inhabited, with an estimated population of roughly 10,000 people. TAF chairman David Eyre said the USO deployment will support economic participation, entrepreneurship and improved access to essential services for communities, households and businesses in the group, regardless of location or circumstance.
“Universal connectivity is a critical enabler of inclusive economic and social development and is a core objective of the government’s national digital development agenda,” Eyre said in a statement. “Through the industry-funded Universal Service Fund, established under Government policy and administered by TAF, remote and maritime communities are being connected to digital markets, services and opportunities that were previously beyond reach of telecommunications networks.”
“By expanding communications services, we are making access available to vital digital tools that will drive economic growth, increase healthcare access, enhance educational opportunities, and open doors to financial inclusion for thousands of Fijians,” added Digicel Fiji CEO Farid Mohammed.
