Pacific Islands Telecommunication Association

The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) successfully convened its 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Business Forum, and Expo from April 29 to May 2, 2025, in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Hosted by Solomon Telekom (Our Telekom), the event brought together over 280 delegates from more than 100 organizations across 30 countries, fostering discussions under the theme “Digital Nations and Smart Blue Continent: Strengthening Digital Sovereignty and Connectivity for a Resilient Pacific Future.”

The AGM featured participation from prominent leaders, including Mr. Jia-Rong Low, Director General of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Mr. Brian Moon, CEO of the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), Mr Delreo Newman, Chair of the Caribbean Association of the National Telecommunication Operators (CANTO), and representatives from the GSMA and ICANN. Their involvement underscored the importance of regional and global collaboration in advancing internet accessibility, telecommunications policy, and mobile connectivity across the Pacific.

Government leaders also played a pivotal role in the event. Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele of the Solomon Islands delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the critical need to address internet accessibility and the role of ICT in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu, highlighted the progress of PNG’s digital government initiatives and called for the establishment of a dedicated International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Sub-Regional Office in the Pacific to enhance ICT resilience and capacity-building.

Throughout the five-day event, participants engaged in high-level discussions on topics such as digital infrastructure, investment gaps, cybersecurity, submarine cables, AI, 5G, cloud computing, and the internet connectivity in the Pacific. The collaborative efforts and shared insights from PITA 29 are expected to contribute significantly to shaping a resilient and connected digital future for the Pacific region.

As an additional development from the PITA 29 AGM, discussions were also held on how PITA and Lagatoi Declaration, a Pacific ICT Ministers initiative under the interim voluntary care by Papua New Guinea’s Ministry of ICT, can complement each other in moving forward to address regional needs and gaps — and to realise the benefits of digital nations within the Smart Blue Continent. As part of this, both parties are working toward a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize collaboration and strengthen joint efforts in digital development and regional cooperation.

For more information, visit the PITA 29 event page.