The inaugural Pacific Islands Fiber Conference 2025 drew to a close in Fiji with Vodafone Fiji taking a Gold sponsorship role, underscoring the event’s message that fibre connectivity is central to accelerating digital transformation across the Pacific region. Held over two days at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau, the conference carried the theme Pacific Connected: Building Resilient Digital Foundations, and spotlighted fibre as the backbone of modern economies.
Vodafone Fiji emphasized that the discussions were not only about Fiji’s digital future but about the wider Pacific. Chief executive officer Elenoa Biukoto said the insights from the gathering are essential for future-proofing the region’s digital empowerment and that the company remains committed to expanding digital access for all communities.
Vodafone Fiji’s chief technology officer, Vikash Prasad, also stressed pride in supporting the conference as a Gold Sponsor. He framed fibre connectivity as critical to building a future where every Pacific island nation is connected, empowered and thriving, and highlighted the event as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Key themes and discussions at the conference included:
– Targeting broadband investments to maximise the impact of digital infrastructure across Pacific islands.
– Building a resilient digital future by leveraging technology to drive economic and social growth.
– Transforming network operations through artificial intelligence and automation in a 5G era.
– Closing the digital divide via effective submarine cable strategies to promote inclusive growth.
– Creating enabling environments for investment in digital infrastructure and prioritising capacity building and digital inclusion to ensure broad participation in the digital economy.
The event was attended by senior executives, government stakeholders, technology leaders and regional experts from across the Pacific and beyond, serving as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation and partnerships and laying groundwork for a connected and digitally empowered Pacific. It was hosted by Telecom Fiji, the Fibre Network Council Asia Pacific and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association.
In the wider context of Fiji’s digital ambitions, the conference aligns with ongoing national and regional efforts. Fiji’s National Digital Strategy 2025–2030, designed to accelerate digital infrastructure, cyber resilience and inclusive digital services, provides a framework for leveraging fibre, 5G, satellites and cybersecurity to reach urban centers and remote communities alike. Regional developments such as fibre-satellite convergence and ongoing subsea cable activity reinforce Fiji’s role as a regional digital hub, while regulators emphasise open access and shared infrastructure to reduce costs and stimulate competition across the market.
Looking ahead, the conference signals a positive, forward-looking path for Pacific connectivity. A blended architecture that combines fibre with satellite, cloud computing and AI-enabled network operations is viewed as essential to delivering faster, more reliable services for education, health, commerce and disaster resilience. The discussions also point to continued collaboration among telecoms, regulators, government and technology providers to translate dialogue into concrete deployments that extend last-mile connectivity to underserved areas.
Broader takeaways include a push for practical investments and deployments that actively reach rural and maritime communities, a focus on cybersecurity and resilience as networks expand, and a clear view that public-private partnerships will be crucial to sustaining momentum. As Fiji’s digital roadmap advances, households and businesses across the region can anticipate faster, more affordable, and more reliable digital services that empower every community to participate in the digital economy.
For readers monitoring the region, the conference reinforced Fiji’s leadership in regional digital transformation and highlighted an ecosystem ready to translate collaboration into tangible gains in education, healthcare, trade and everyday life. The momentum suggests ongoing pilots, policy updates and investment opportunities that could accelerate connectivity across the Pacific in the years ahead.
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