VANUATU has launched National Digital Week, bringing together government agencies, telecom providers, emergency responders, and digital experts to address the growing challenges of cyber safety and technology-driven disaster resilience.
The three-day event, running from May 13 to 15, is themed “Strengthening Digital Resilience in a Connected World.”
Organizers say the goal is to help citizens better understand how technology can improve daily life, support national development, and strengthen disaster preparedness across the nation.
During a live panel discussion, cyber and digital forensic consultant Jeffrey Garae said that Vanuatu has seen rapid technological change as internet use expands. “Technology is evolving so quickly that countries are trying hard to keep up and learn,” he said. “In the early days, the focus was mainly on using technology, but security was not a priority. Now security must become a core part of technology.”
Executives from Vanuatu’s major telecommunications companies shared insights on the role of connectivity in emergencies. Everett Whippy, CEO of Vodafone Vanuatu, highlighted the difficulty of maintaining communications in a nation of more than 80 islands.
“Many communication towers are located in remote areas without roads, so technology becomes very important during emergencies and recovery operations,” Whippy said.
Gary Sue Fong, CEO of Digicel Pacific, described lessons from the recent earthquake response. “Our domestic network continued operating during the earthquake. The main issue was damage to the submarine cable, which affected internet connectivity to the outside world. Heavy traffic during the disaster also caused network congestion.”
Dickinson Tevi, Secretary General of the Vanuatu Red Cross Society, stressed that accurate information is a lifeline for humanitarian responders. “Good communication is very important during emergencies because responders need accurate information quickly to understand the damage and coordinate support.”
Source: VBTC
