EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf
EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf
EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf
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Box A.4: University of the South <strong>Pacific</strong> – Distance Learning through Satellite<br />
Communications<br />
<strong>The</strong> University of the South <strong>Pacific</strong> (USP) is an example of a successful<br />
implementation of a region-wide distance learning scheme using a satellite<br />
telecommunications network. <strong>The</strong> University is owned by twelve South <strong>Pacific</strong><br />
countries and has centers in 11 member states. Sixty percent of its students make<br />
use of the distance education program which is supported by a satellite<br />
communications network. USP has permission to bypass the international<br />
telecommunication providers and connect its 12 member states directly.<br />
Enrolment has increased by 72% in the past 2 years since this system was<br />
introduced. Nevertheless, internet bandwidth is still expensive over the satellite<br />
connection and this has forced the university to restrict internet access among<br />
students. It is currently investigating opportunities to expand the IP platform in<br />
order to take better advantage of the internet. <strong>The</strong> technology and satellite are set<br />
to change later this year and there are plans to introduce a new high speed link to<br />
Canberra and an upgrade to IP based connections by the end of this year. Not all<br />
countries have actually licensed USP. Some just agree to it informally. This is<br />
problematic when the links are upgraded.<br />
USP member states<br />
Source: “Fiji Case Study” ITU, June 2004<br />
In Samoa, mobile technology has been effective in helping the incumbent operator,<br />
SamoaTel, meet its universal service obligation. SamoaTel may not provide mobile<br />
services, (an exclusive license has been awarded to Telecom Samoa Cellular), but the<br />
company has used GSM technology to create wireless local loop networks in remote<br />
villages. People are able to use wireless handsets to make calls from within the<br />
village, but the handsets will not work outside of the village. Although the use of this<br />
technology is currently being disputed by Telecom Samoa Cellular, which believes<br />
this to be a contravention of its exclusive license, it has proved to be a cost effective<br />
way of extending basic services to these communities.<br />
In a liberalized telecommunications market, the traditional method of financing the<br />
universal service obligation is not possible. <strong>The</strong>re is not much liberalization<br />
experience to draw on in the <strong>Pacific</strong>, but our comparator countries provide some<br />
examples of alternative approaches to providing universal access:<br />
A levy on interconnection fees: In some countries, despite a move to<br />
liberalization, the incumbent operator has retained an obligation to extend<br />
telecommunications coverage which is funded through a levy implicit in<br />
the interconnection charges. This is sometimes called a Telecommunications<br />
Service Obligation (TSO) policy. New Zealand’s ‘Kiwi Share’ obligation is a<br />
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