28. While customer demand for mobile services has been sufficient to drive mobile network roll-out to give coverage to more than 80% of the population of Solomon Islands already, it will be necessary in future to consider whether there are areas in which, or services for which, demand will be insufficient to attract investment. In relation to such areas or services, it may be desirable to adopt measures to support customers’ demand, rather than the conventional approach of funding operators to build network assets. 29. A key driver of demand is that locally relevant content is available.16 An important empirical study by the Internet Society, OECD and UNESCO has investigated the connections between local content, infrastructure and access prices: The empirical analysis in this paper shows a strong correlation between local content, infrastructure development and access prices but it is not able to positively determine the direction of causality due to data constraints and complex mutual dependencies. What is most likely is that the three elements are connected and feed into each other in a virtuous circle. The interlinkages between the different elements lead to three key lines of policy considerations evolving out of this research: fostering content development, expanding connectivity and promoting Internet access competition.17 30. The key implication of these findings is that funding operators to construct facilities is not the only way to promote network roll-out: promoting local content will drive demand for services, and operators will respond to that greater demand by building more infrastructures. Access to locally relevant content 31. Ensuring the preservation and vitality of the national culture is an important goal for any country. In Solomon Islands, the Government has previously underlined the importance of preservation and development of Solomon Islands arts and culture. A key national development strategy is to: “preserve, protect, promote and manage cultural assets to enhance and mainstream cultural activities.”18 The Nasinol Policy 16 “The content that is most important to people is typically in their own language and is relevant to the communities in which they live and work.” ISOC, OECD and UNESCO “The Relationship between Local Content, Internet Development and Access Prices: Main Findings and Conclusions” (2012) p 1. 17 Ibid p 2. 18 Solomon Islands Government National Development Strategy 2011 to 2020 (2011) p 12. Page | 17 Solomon Islands National ICT Policy