27 January 2011: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Solomon Islands on improving the delivery of government services in rural areas in health, emergency services, police, agriculture and provincial government sectors.

Managed by the SPC, the project is supported by the Global Fund and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme. Satellite broadband internet access will be supplied to 21 rural centers, through the Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System (PacRICS). The access will be shared by the health center or hospital police station, provincial government office, agriculture office and the National Disaster Management Office, as well as by the private sector.

The project includes installation of the equipment, operation of the network and training in five ministries for all operators over two years to build the skills of ministry staff on use of the Internet for e-government. After two years, UNDP and SPC will hand over the system to the Government. According to SPC, PacRICS has deployed 100 systems in 16 Pacific island countries. [SPC Press Release]