Tonga participates in the 3rd Pacific Internet Governance Forum 2021 (IGF ^Featured

This year’s forum is the third Pacific IGF and for the first time, hosted as a hybrid event. There are nine Pacific countries including Tonga, joining the event live from the University of the South Pacific campuses. Meanwhile, the rest of the registrants around the globe also join the meeting virtually.

Kicking off the event was a discussion on the very important topic of “Enhancing security in the Pacific”. The session highlights the importance of knowing how to use the internet safely and that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. Another session focused on “Digital Transformation” and how collaboration is key to ensuring transformation is an inclusive process.

For the Opening Plenary of the Pacific IGF, several ministers across the region joined as keynote speakers including the Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Tonga’s Minister of Education and Training.

Alongside him were Hon. Timothy Masiu, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Hon. Simon Kofe, the Minister for Justice, Communication, and Foreign Affairs of the Government of Tuvalu, Hon. Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesomo, Minister for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) of Samoa and Professor Jito Vanualailai, the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Learning and Teaching of the University of the South Pacific.

The ministers echoed the status of ICT in the region and how the technology is rapidly growing and contributing to the national GDP and economic growth. The internet has become a lifeline and internet access is a human right. With digital connectivity, infrastructure, emerging technology, and innovation, it is impacting on every aspect of life such as education, health care and other key sectors.

The Hon. Hu’akavameiliku joined the participants at the Tonga hub, and spoke on the challenges and opportunities of ICT and Telecommunication in Tonga, specifically in the education sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku highlighted how Covid-19 reshaped the way we think and do things. He continued to mention the challenges faced by the education sector in Tonga from the context of families with children who are still in school.

1. Affordability (cost of accessing the internet)
2. Infrastructure (having the appropriate device to access online learning materials)
3. Computer and ICT literacy (students and teachers to know how to use the technologies)
4. Teachers’ capacity (train teachers on online teaching)
5. Online bullying / harassment (students to know how to access and use the internet safely)

The Hon. Hu’akavameiliku concluded by reminding the participants that the issues will be not be solved overnight, but an ongoing and a long-term strategy is required.

Today on the third day of the event, different stakeholders attended the Tonga hub, including participants from Digicel, Ministry of MEIDECC’s Information Department, CERT Tonga, Ministry of Education, Private sector companies and other organizations.

The Tongan participants were pleased to have Mr. Siope Vakataki ‘Ofa, Economics Affairs Officer from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) joined from Thailand during the afternoon session.

The UNESCAP have provided various capacity building in cooperation with other partners in different areas including the Internet Exchange Points (IXP), digital transformation, digital economy, ICT statistics for evidence-based policy making.

The Pacific IGF continues tomorrow, the last day, with more discussions on the importance of effective international and regional partnership to support Pacific Regionalism and how to tackle online misinformation and information disorder in the region.

- Tonga Women in ICT