Pacific Islands Fiber Conference 2025 wraps with a shared push for resilient, inclusive digital infrastructure across the region
The inaugural Pacific Islands Fiber Conference 2025 concluded yesterday in Fiji, with Vodafone Fiji underscoring its central role in driving a digital-forward vision for Fiji and the broader Pacific. Held at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau, Denarau Island, the two-day event carried the theme Pacific Connected: Building Resilient Digital Foundations, and placed fibre connectivity at the heart of regional digital transformation.
Vodafone Fiji’s chief executive officer, Elenoa Biukoto, stressed that the conference’s discussions were not just about Fiji’s digital future but about the Pacific as a whole. “The insights gained over the past two days are essential for future-proofing our region in digital empowerment,” Biukoto said, highlighting Vodafone Fiji’s commitment to expanding digital access for all communities.
Vodafone Fiji’s chief technology officer, Vikash Prasad, also noted the company’s pride in supporting the conference as a Gold Sponsor, stressing fibre’s role as the backbone of modern economies. “By backing this event, we reinforce our dedication to building a future where every island nation in the region is connected, empowered and thriving,” Prasad added.
The conference drew senior executives, government stakeholders, technology leaders and regional experts from across the Pacific and beyond. It served as a prime platform for collaboration, innovation and strategic partnerships, with discussions aimed at turning momentum into concrete deployments that advance last-mile inclusion and digital resilience.
Key discussion themes 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 the use of artificial intelligence and automation within a 5G era.
– Closing the digital divide through effective submarine cable strategies that promote inclusive growth.
– Creating enabling environments for investment in digital infrastructure and prioritizing capacity building and digital inclusion to ensure broad participation in the digital economy.
The event was hosted by Telecom Fiji, the Fibre Network Council Asia Pacific (FNCAP) and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA), underscoring a regional effort to align policy, investment and technology across multiple stakeholders.
Context and broader significance
The conference sits within Fiji’s broader digital ambitions, including the National Digital Strategy 2025–2030 and ongoing 5G rollout plans designed to extend high-speed connectivity to urban centers and, progressively, to rural and maritime communities. Regional developments around fibre-satellite convergence, smart island solutions, and cybersecurity were reflected in the dialogue, with government leaders signaling continued support for digital resilience and inclusive growth.
In parallel narratives, Fiji’s digital push is reinforced by recent and ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the backbone of the nation’s connectivity. Initiatives such as Savusavu to Labasa fibre extensions in Vanua Levu, supported by local partners and international technology providers, illustrate the practical steps toward expanding high-speed service to more communities. The broader regional context also includes expanded satellite coverage and subsea cable activity, all aligned with a strategy to bring reliable digital services closer to every citizen.
Regulatory and market perspectives were highlighted as essential to sustaining momentum. Regulators stressed the importance of open access and shared infrastructure to reduce costs for smaller ISPs, improve service quality, and stimulate competition. The discussions reinforced the view that effective standards on speed, latency and reliability must evolve hand in hand with technology development, and that public–private partnerships will be crucial to extending last-mile connectivity.
Outlook and implications
The Pacific Fiber Conference reinforces Fiji’s emergence as a regional digital hub and signals a hopeful trajectory for the Pacific’s connectivity landscape. Through a coordinated blend of fibre, satellite, cloud, AI and cybersecurity strategies, the region aims to deliver faster, more resilient services that support education, healthcare, commerce and disaster resilience—benefiting both urban centers and remote island communities.
For businesses and communities, the conversations point to a more accessible and affordable digital future driven by open infrastructure, smart regulation, and sustained investments. The emphasis on inclusion and capacity-building suggests opportunities not only for large telecom operators but also for local providers, startups and public sector digital services to participate in a thriving regional ecosystem.
Commentary and analysis
The conference’s emphasis on a blended architecture—combining fibre with satellite links and AI-enabled network operations—reflects a pragmatic approach to universal access in a geographically dispersed region. By prioritizing last-mile inclusion, regulatory clarity, and cross-border collaboration, Fiji and its Pacific partners appear positioned to accelerate concrete deployments, attract investment, and deliver tangible improvements in digital service delivery across islands.
In brief, the event showcases a unified regional ambition: to connect every corner of the Pacific with robust, secure and future-ready digital infrastructure. It also highlights Fiji’s ongoing leadership in regional digital transformation, reinforced by public–private collaboration, strategic technology partnerships and a shared commitment to digital inclusion for all Pacific communities.
Add-on observations
– Expect continued collaboration among Telecom Fiji, Vodafone Fiji and other regional players as they translate conference dialogues into pilot projects and scalable deployments.
– Watch for regulatory updates or standards developments aimed at open access and performance benchmarks to accompany the region’s growing 5G and fibre networks.
– As infrastructure expands, focus on ensuring digital literacy, affordability, and inclusive access will be essential to maximise the benefits of new connectivity for education, health and economic development.
Overall, the Pacific Islands Fiber Conference 2025 reinforces a positive, forward-looking path for digital transformation across Fiji and the wider Pacific, anchored in resilience, inclusion and collaborative action.
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