The  Government  will  direct  officials  engaged  in  the  provision  of  core  infrastructure,   particularly  telecommunications,  roads,  electricity  and  water,  to  share  information  in   order  to  ensure  that  the  benefits  of  investment  in  one  sector  are  available,  to  an   appropriate  extent,  to  other  sectors.  For  example,  the  Government  intends  that  the   design  of  a  new  road  project  should  be  co-­‐ordinated  with  the  telecommunications  sector   and  provide  ducts  which  would  permit  the  installation  of  fibre-­‐optic  cables  in  the  future.   3 Importance  of  the  ICT  sector   Telecommunications  services  help  to  overcome  the  barriers  of  long  distance  and  isolation,   which  are  particularly  challenging  for  Kiribati.  Telecommunications  help  to  bring  together   people  and  families  from  village  to  village,  from  island  to  island,  and  to  connect  to  the   world.  Unfortunately,  the  current  lack  of  telecommunications  services  for  the  Outer   Islands  means  that  many  families  are  unable  to  stay  in  contact  with  loved  ones  who  have   travelled  to  other  parts  of  Kiribati  or  internationally,  often  in  search  of  work.   It  is  important  that  Kiribati  embraces  the  information  society,  which  is  spreading   worldwide  and  rapidly  guiding  all  economic  and  social  activities.  Businesses,  particularly   small  and  medium  businesses,  depend  upon  reliable  ICT  infrastructure  in  order  to  grow   and  increase  profitability.  Reliable  connectivity  and  the  ability  to  engage  in  e-­‐commerce   are  vital  paths  to  economic  prosperity  and  business  success.  Government  ministries  and   island  councils  can  benefit  considerably  from  affordable  and  reliable  telecommunications,   which  will  assist  them  in  providing  services  to  their  constituents.     4 Current  status  of  telecommunications  in  Kiribati   The  ICT  sector  in  Kiribati  is  undeveloped.  Compared  to  other  Pacific  Island  countries,   Kiribati  has  a  relatively  low  level  of  penetration  for  all  fixed  telephony,  mobile  and   Internet  services.  Affordability  of  these  basic  services  is  also  a  major  issue  -­‐-­‐  Kiribati’s  fixed   and  mobile  telephony  services  are  among  the  least  affordable  in  the  Pacific.  This  places   major  constraints  on  usage  and  hinders  the  development  of  ICT  dependent  applications.     Recent  analysis  of  ICT  demand  and  supply  in  Kiribati  has  identified  considerable  pent-­‐up   demand  for  mobile  services  in  particular.  The  Government  believes  that  there  are  a   number  of  commercially  viable  opportunities  for  the  private  sector,  including  for  a  second   mobile  operator.  The  Government  recognizes  that  in  other  similar  markets,  including   other  Pacific  Island  countries,  mobile  penetration  has  risen  rapidly  following  the   commencement  of  a  second  mobile  operator.  The  mobile  revolution  is  still  to  take  place   in  Kiribati.     Geographical  features  and  dispersion  of  many  of  Kiribati’s  islands  present  significant   challenges  for  the  provision  of  modern  affordable  telecoms  services,  principally  due  to   their  remoteness,  small  populations,  low  income  and  the  lack  of  other  supporting     2