6.6 Financial Services Remote access to financial services creates economic benefits for rural users, as telecommunication infrastructure and services spread across the country. ATH’s mobile money service MPAISA is available wherever customers have 3G phones and are able to use them. Merchants who have access to the Internet are able to use the ANZ bank’s EFTPOS service, and full-service Internet banking and a supporting mobile app are likely to be available in a few months’ time for customers who have access to the Internet. Extension of the mobile networks, especially with 3G capability, and of the Internet will bring these services to the entire population of Kiribati. 6.7 Safety of Life at Sea Safety of life at sea is a major continuing concern for Kiribati. In MICTTD, the Marine Division’s Maritime Transport Policy addresses such maritime safety concerns. However, that Policy will be constantly reviewed to ensure its successful implementation, with the maintenance of safety standards in the domestic shipping trades, a top priority. Modern telecommunication technologies can greatly improve overall safety and the chances of successful rescues when mishaps occur. 7. Policy Objectives for the ICT Sector This National ICT policy is consistent with the aims and strategies of the Government’s manifesto, its 20-year vision, (KV20) and the Kiribati Development Plan – namely, the pursuit of economic growth for Kiribati. It aims to improve the lives of citizens through further development of the economy and citizens’ capabilities. Increased availability of affordable and reliable telecommunication services is a key input to economic growth, particularly for presently un-served and underserved remote areas of Kiribati as demonstrated in the previous sections. Reliable and affordable telecommunication is also the key to unlocking innovation in other sectors. For example, frontier technologies such as Blockchain, the Internet of Things, 5G mobile services and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are dependent upon efficient underlying communications and on the development of new innovative ideas to enhance efficiency. Access to the widest possible range of telecommunication services, especially Internet connectivity, opens up many possibilities for improving the quality and scope of education in Kiribati. An important attribute of the Internet is its ability to provide distance-learning opportunities and to build bridges between teachers and students in remote-learning situations. The Government is committed to reducing the ‘digital divide’ between schools that have access to the Internet and those that do not. That also applies to the extension of health medical services to rural areas. Similarly, as Internet penetration improves, the Government intends to develop a range Kiribati National ICT Policy 2019 15