Pacific Exporter's NetworkBasic digital access is central to how most people live, but 2.6 billion people are offline, 1.4 billion are unbanked and 850 million lack official identification.
There is a sense of urgency to connect the unconnected including at the World Bank which is ramping up its work on digitisation.
The World Bank can support countries develop regulatory frameworks, build digital infrastructure and mobilise the private sector to ensure access to fast and affordable connectivity as well as usage of digital tools and services.
While the World Bank wants to be more ambitious, particularly in Africa, we do not know if it has the same concerns in Pacific countries.
Bearing in mind that it takes 27 months just to approve a project that will not be operating for another decade, that shows that urgent change is needed.
We are aware of the recent call by the Prime Minister of Samoa on this subject.
We consider this is the kind of project that the Pacific High Commissioners Business Forum might consider and perhaps champion.
We plan to try.
