130. The ICT Support Unit (“ICTSU”) within Ministry of Finance is making significant progress toward mitigating the above issues. The “SIGCONNECT” wireless metropolitan area network rolled out by ICTSU in 2013 promises to substantially improve and speed up connections and communication between Government departments and offices. The immediate challenge is to complete migration of Ministries to the network and connection to SIG-Connect. Further challenges centre on leveraging the connectivity and centralization provided by SIGCONNECT to enhance G2G, G2C and G2B performance. 131. In light of the extensively cross-cutting nature of ICT and of the contemplated ICT Objectives and ICT Strategies, the Government proposes to task a single agency with responsibility for National ICT Policy implementation. This leadership role will involve determining in cooperation with Ministries and departments the content of ICT action plans, project-managing the execution of action plans, and coordinating the efforts of the various Ministries, departments, aid partners, and private sector bodies involved. 132. It is clear from international experience that an ICT leadership function within government is crucial. Absent a central coordination mechanism, Ministries will tend to each set up their own information systems, leading to duplication and weak sharing of information, uneven development across Ministries, and missed opportunities to realize economies of scale.44 133. The complexity of implementing ICT policy across multiple Ministries, and the specialist knowledge and experience required, makes establishment of an independent office essential. This is particularly the case where e-Government initiatives are underway, which involve not just advanced technical competency but also process re- engineering and change management expertise. Many countries now have a NIO or equivalent office headed by a National CIO, including both developing and developed countries with deep experience in public-sector ICT deployment.45 44 Ibid, p 92. Kenya has a Directorate of e-Government, located in the Cabinet Office, under the Office of the President. In Mexico, the President’s Office for Government Innovation sets the direction for e-government and coordinates e-government activities. Bulgaria, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore have adopted variations of the central ICT agency model. In the United Kingdom, an E-Government Unit is set up within the Cabinet Office, supported by a CIO Council. Australia, Canada, and the USA each have ‘councils’ of CIOs to coordinate collaboration on ICT issues across their federal jurisdictions. See, NK Hanna, CZ Qiang, K Kimura and CK Siou “National E-Government Institutions: Functions, Models and Trends” in World Bank 45 Page | 45 Solomon Islands National ICT Policy