6.1.4 International Capacity and Diversity International traffic has increased dramatically since ATH took over the business of TSKL. The current international link capacity of 414Mb/s is vastly greater than the 45Mb/s in TSKL days. The burgeoning demand is driven by the increased number of mobile subscribers and the rapid take-up of Internet services, driven by more affordable prices and the growth of participation in social media. It is anticipated that the current international link capacity of 414 MB/s will be insufficient to cater for the growing demand for very much longer. We also recognise that for security reasons it is highly desirable to have alternative (redundant) capacity on another system such as the proposed submarine cables, which will bring both security and the needed extra capacity. 6.1.5 Improving Access to Communication In addition to expanding the coverage of mobile telephone networks and Internet services to cover the whole population, there is a need for village ICT hubs to enable communications access for people who cannot afford telephones, TVs and radios. The needs of disabled people with their special challenges in accessing communications also require recognition through appropriate responses and support. 6.2 Legislation The Communications Act 2013 as amended by its Amendment in 2017 contains a number of measures that supported the first intended policy reforms of reforming the Regulator’s Office, privatisation and opening ofthe markets to competition. Some parts of this legislation were stop-gap measures in the absence of other necessary support legislation. Such measures included rules for fair competition, cyber-crimes (including pornography), privacy and copyright. The only privacy rules in the existing legislation cover the protection of information about customers’ usage of the telecommunication systems. More measures are needed to protect citizens’ rights when their other personal data is stored in private or government databases. It was understood at the time, that the stop-gap provisions would eventually be replaced with their own specific Acts, as is generally the practice in other countries. So far none of these replacement statutes have been developed, and the need for other laws such as an Electronic Transactions Act and more comprehensive data privacy provisions have become apparent. Kiribati lacks a legislative framework, to facilitate the effective utilisation of e-Commerce. There are no laws to validate the acceptability and legality of electronic documents and transactions. Similarly, there are no laws governing the electronic contracting, which is a necessary underpinning for electronic payments and electronic funds transfer transactions and there is no law that establishes electronic crimes as an offence. Kiribati National ICT Policy 2019 13