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October 26, 2011
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| The Minister is all smiles about the possibilities discussed. Photo: RMI-MoTCFrom Left to Right: Mr. Rommel Natividad and Mr. Phil Philippo, Mr. Koji Yoshida and Mr. Yasuhiko Kawasumi, MIC Japan officials, Honorable Kenneth Kedi, and Japan Charge d’ Affai |
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC Japan) visited the RMI Ministry of Transportation and Communications (RMI MOTC) team last August 5, 2011 for continued discussion on assistance between the two governments regarding telecommunication systems development in the Marshall Islands. The Japanese Delegation was hosted by Minister Kenneth Kedi for lunch at Riwut Corner Restaurant.
The RMI has been chosen by the Asia Pacific Telecommunity to be the host of a pilot telecommunication project that is targeting the outer islands. APT will fund this developmental study through an originally Japanese Government funding grant that involves the Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communication of Japan. KDDI Corporation has been allocated the implementation contract after a successful bidding process.
MOTC and KDDI are working over the detail of the program.
The project will be tried out and inaugurated on the island of Mejit. The project will see the establishment of a call center on the island. The technology is the first in the world that is highly efficient and will use renewable energy to support its power requirement.
KDDI Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, a large communications company with the expertise on the technology will carry out the project on Mejit Island.
According to T&C Secretary Phil Phillipo, “this is an exciting project that will improve the outer islands communication channel with Majuro and the rest of the World. Renewable power generation and technological advancement is helping Marshallese people, especially those in vulnerable situations on the outer islands and we are excited about the opportunities”.
“We are grateful to be chosen as recipient for this pilot communications project that has great potential to develop links with our islands out there”, Mr. Philipo said.
The system will provide communication via telephones and the internet to the residents of Mejit Island. The success story in Mejit will see that all islands in the RMI receive the same system.
There are four main objectives of the project that is to provide economic growth by providing cheap communication infrastructure to make available telephones and the internet, make available an alternative communication channel other than the short wave radio that will encourage tourism and support social welfare, provision of an educational medium that will help outer island students and preserve cultures and traditions and to provide a study on technological advancement that is cheap and durable in the outer islands so it may be reciprocated in vulnerable situations on other outer islands.
APT is a key organization of Government’s spearheading development and innovation programs in cooperation with telecom service providers, manufacturers of communication equipment and research and development companies in the field of communication and information technologies. The Marshall Islands is a member of the APT.
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