Meaningful Connectivity Initiative
Fostering Digital Inclusion with the UAS Fund
The Meaningful Connectivity Initiative focuses on the demand side of ICT development, ensuring citizens, communities, and businesses can fully benefit from the availability of advanced broadband networks and services.
Our goal is to provide secure telecommunications and ICTs for digital development for all, with a focus on digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and digital skills development. This initiative also promotes investment in secure infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.
Our Targets and Priorities
Projects under this initiative will support the development of meaningful applications and content and help make devices like computers and smartphones more affordable for all citizens and businesses. We aim to accomplish this by developing relevant content and by making essential devices more accessible.
This initiative has three main components, which can be implemented as independent UAS projects or combined with other fund programs:
Digital Literacy
ICT Application and Content Development
Affordable Smart Devices
Specific projects will be designed by NICTA and the UAS Board, in consultation with public officials and other stakeholders, to encourage greater user uptake of meaningful applications and content beyond social media.
Our Threefold Strategy
The Meaningful Connectivity Initiative will be implemented through three key programs:
Digital Literacy
This program supports training and capacity-building activities to increase the use of ICTs by all citizens, businesses, and government offices. Projects will enhance understanding and experience with ICT services and applications, highlighting the opportunities these technologies can offer. These projects will be implemented in partnership with the ICT industry, education providers, and key government agencies.
- Training Component for the Fixed Broadband Connectivity Project: All Fixed Broadband Projects will include a training component to provide basic digital skills to recipient communities.
- Public Awareness and Capacity Building to support Digital Government Plan 2023-2027 (DGP): Projects will be implemented under the guidance of the Department of ICT (DICT) to support the DGP’s capacity-building goals.
- Public Digital Skills Training Project: This project delivers digital skills training to the public through established Digital Hubs/ICT Incubation Centers, offering basic and intermediate-level courses as classified by the ITU.
ICT Application and Content Development
This program focuses on supporting the development of valuable electronic information and applications for PNG citizens. The main goal is to create a robust environment for software programmers, application developers, and other entities interested in sharing knowledge electronically. Projects will be developed with partner organizations to deliver new, meaningful applications and content services that can become self-sustaining. The program also supports the DGP 2023-2027 by aiding the development of e-government applications and content.
- Digital Government Applications and Content Projects: This project supports the development of e-government applications and content to improve government service delivery, especially in remote and rural areas.
- Public Applications and Content Projects: This project supports the development of meaningful ICT applications to encourage innovation among software programmers, application developers, and content creators, with a focus on sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and financial services.
Affordable Smart Devices
This program supports UAS projects that make appropriate and fully functional devices affordable to all who need them. This will be achieved through a combination of programs, partnerships, and incentives.
- Smart 4G Mobile Devices Projects: This project ensures the availability of affordable smart 4G mobile devices for citizens and businesses in Mobile Broadband project areas.
- Fixed Broadband Devices: This project, implemented in combination with the Fixed Broadband Program, will provide computers and other equipment to maximize the use of fixed broadband services in project areas.
- Set-top Boxes: This project supports the transition to free-to-air digital TV services by subsidizing the availability and affordability of digital TV set-top boxes in broadcasting project areas.
- Satellite Terminals: This project provides satellite terminals to rural and remote communities.