6 7 electronic signatures, encryption and data protection as well as obligations and liability of intermediaries and e-commerce service providers; E-Business Act No. 25 of 2000 (as amended by the E-Business (Amendment) Act No. 17 of 2007), which aims to “provide a robust and sustainable environment for the development and growth of electronic business in or that is associated with Vanuatu and to regulate such electronic business” (section 2 (1) of the E-Business Act); Broadcasting and Television Act [CAP 214], which governs radio and television broadcasting activities. Private and public sector stakeholders have been implementing projects that have further enhanced the ICT sector or have a strong potential to do so in the near future. Such projects include the deployment of the first Vanuatu’s international submarine cable, which will significantly enhance international connectivity for Vanuatu and is due to be ready for service by early 2014. Furthermore, telecommunications infrastructure has been strengthened by a recently launched national internet exchange point, which is the first of its kind in the Pacific. The Government has deployed the Government Broadband Network (GBN), connecting all the provinces. The Ministry of Health is also implementing a separate programme to connect hospitals and major health centres. Some Government agencies, notably the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department, provide current and highly useful online information to residents. The Government has launched the Integrated Government (iGov) initiative and adopted the E-Government Strategic Roadmap to drive further utilisation of ICTs in public administration. These recent achievements establish a solid foundation for Vanuatu to achieve a significant progress from the relatively low current levels of e-government development. Access to the Internet in lower-income as well as remote communities is expanded by various Government and private initiatives, including the Rensarie Telecenter, a Wan Smolbag computer classroom as well as commercial or community-run public Internet access points available in Lakatoro (Malakula), Loltong (North Pentecost) and other localities. Although access to ICTs in schools remains very low5, where such access is available, it produces remarkable results. For example, a 55% increase in students’ pass rate from year 12 to year 13 was reported in Rensarie following provision of the Internet to Rensarie College. Importantly, virtually all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, school administrations, provincial education officers and community representatives, are in a broad agreement that schools are well placed to serve community needs for access to ICTs by becoming Community Learning, Information and Communication Centres. In recognition of the importance of ICTs in the education sector and a role that this sector could play in serving ICT needs of the population, the OGCIO and the Ministry of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a comprehensive framework for collaboration in this regard. 5 A recent study conducted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), Ministry of Education (MoE) and Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) suggests that only about 5% of students have access to ICTs and only about 6% of schools nationwide have access to the Internet. OGCIO, MoE and TRR (2013). The First Survey of ICT Usage in the Vanuatu Schools. 16 National Information and Communication Technology Policy