The Minister for Policing and Communications, Hon. Ioane Naivalurua, today paid an official visit to the Telecommunication Authority of Fiji (TAF) as part of engaging with key stakeholders in his new role as Communications Minister.
The Minister expressed enthusiasm about the sector’s role in advancing Fiji’s digitalisation and economic growth, stressing that connectivity must go beyond access to meaningfully improve people’s lives. He highlighted the importance of collaboration across the sector, addressing existing gaps, and ensuring communication technologies serve the needs of all Fijians. He also thanked the TAF team for their work and confirmed his commitment to working closely with the Authority moving forward.
During the visit, the Chair of the TAF Board, Mr David Eyer, led a comprehensive presentation on the regulator’s mandate, covering policy oversight, licensing, consumer protection, and enforcement. The Board outlined its focus on balancing these responsibilities while responding to global telecommunications trends, safeguarding digital sovereignty, and addressing market concentration.
The Board noted that it has been fully constituted since August 2023, enabling progress in key areas. Updates were also provided on the Universal Service Scheme, which is now set for rollout to connect underserved and unconnected communities across Fiji.
Discussions also covered the implementation of the strengthening of financial management and critical staff recruitments, as ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and human resource capacity. TAF reaffirmed its goal of operating as an independent and effective regulator that promotes fair competition and protects consumers.
The Minister also emphasised the need to accurately measure the telecommunications sector’s contribution to Fiji’s GDP, currently estimated at 4 percent, with a national target set in the National Digital Strategy of increasing this to 10 percent by 2030.