1 Background   The  Government  of  Kiribati  recognizes  the  critical  role  of  ICT  in  Kiribati’s  future  economic   development.    ICT  is  a  key  ingredient  in  connecting  people  to  each  other  and  to  vital   services  which  underpin  economic  and  social  wellbeing.  Consequently,  the  Government  is   committed  to  fostering  the  development  and  use  of  affordable,  reliable  ICT  services  in  the   interests  of  all  of  the  people  of  Kiribati.     The  Government  affirms  the  need  for  affordable  and  reliable  ICT  services  as  a   fundamental  input  for  enhanced  economic  growth  and  development,  particularly  in  the   underserved  and  remote  areas  of  Kiribati.  International  experience,  particularly  in   developing  countries,  shows  that  telecommunications  are  an  essential  input  for  other   sectors,  and  for  the  creation  of  wealth  and  jobs.  However,  the  penetration  and  usage   must  be  significant  or  high  for  tangible  results.     This  National  ICT  policy  is  focused  on  creating  a  robust,  stable,  market-­‐driven  ICT  sector,   which  the  Government  believes  will  create  a  favorable  climate  that  is  attractive  to  private   investors  and  will  lead  to  increased  ICT  infrastructure  investment  and  services   development.  The  Government  acknowledges  that  a  key  element  of  a  sustainable  market   is  that  tariffs  must  reflect  the  actual  efficient  costs  of  providing  the  services.   The  Government  also  recognizes,  however,  that  there  are  remote  and  underserved  areas   in  Kiribati  which  are  not  commercially  viable  and  where  innovative  mechanisms  are   needed  to  increase  access  to  ICT  services,  including  supply  of  voice  and  data.  As  much  as   possible,  there  should  be  equal  access  to  services  across  all  of  Kiribati  including  the  Outer   Islands.  The  introduction  of  mechanisms  to  improve  connectivity  for  the  Outer  Islands  is  a   central  component  of  the  Government’s  policy  for  the  ICT  sector.   This  policy  focuses  specifically  on  telecommunications  networks  and  services,  which  are   the  essential  building  blocks  of  the  broader  ICT  sector.  It  is  intended  that,  in  the  future,   this  policy  will  be  expanded  to  deal  with  the  broader  range  of  ICT  matters,  including   broadcasting,  cyber-­‐security,  e-­‐commerce  and  e-­‐government,  and  privacy.     2 Links  to  other  Government  policies   The  Government  and  the  private  sector  in  Kiribati  have  a  finite  budget.  Hence,  it  is  critical   that  every  dollar  is  spent  wisely  and  in  a  way  that  delivers  the  greatest  benefit  for  the   people  of  Kiribati.  The  Government  believes  that  investment  outcomes  will  be  enhanced   by  ensuring  appropriate  co-­‐ordination  and  information  sharing  between  Government   departments  and  the  private  sector.  Co-­‐ordination  is  especially  important  when  it  comes   to  planning  and  delivering  large  infrastructure  projects.       1