THE Minister for Communications and Aviation (MCA) Peter Shanel Agovaka officially launches the Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI) Annual Report 2020 at Heritage Park Hotel, Thursday.
Ten years ago since the formal establishment of the current telecommunications regime, under the Telecommunications Act, Agovaka said this is the first gathering where the Government, the Regulator and the operators are gathered together to acknowledge the role that we all play in this country.
Agovaka is not new to the telecommunication sector as he was a telecommunications engineer and is passionate about this sector.
He believes in its potential as a catalyst for driving the development of numerous other industries in Solomon Islands.
In his remarks during the official launch of the report he highlighted some of the key challenges the sector is facing.
“We are faced with a number of key challenges in the sector, including the demand for us to close the digital divide between our urban and rural population.
“The decreasing demand for traditional services, the CyberSecurity Risks and Data Breaches, the need for strengthened regulatory scrutiny and the preparation for the future, in general,” he added.
On CyberSecurity Risks and Data Breaches Agovaka said that as a responsible ministry they are continuously reminded of our responsibility to balance the protection of personal privacy.
With the need to ensure the freedoms of the internet and communications are exercised responsibly.
“These issues are part of ongoing reforms in cybersecurity policy development, the proposed SIM-card registration standard in Solomon Islands,” he added.
He further added that they are cognizant of the increasing importance for service providers to make data security and privacy a key priority for its subscribers.
“We are also fully conscious of the growing threats experienced online, with potential threats to individuals, companies as well as the government.
“The government and stakeholders must work together to strengthen our capacity in adequate and responsive cyber-security policies, frameworks, and technologies,” Agovaka said.
He further stressed that as a sector, they must be conscious of the demands of the next generation of Solomon Islanders on government, on the Regulator and on Telecom service providers.
“Collectively, we want to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the results that our people expect.
“And so perhaps it is wise that we explore avenues for greater collaboration between us to help government develop relevant and accurate policies and laws, to help operators embrace opportunities from the new environment, and support businesses and customers to not just be reliable, but be innovative,” he said.
The launching was witnessed by the two big telecommunications provider Our Telekom and Bemobile, The Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company Limited (SISCC) and senior government officials.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
