Pacific Islands Telecommunication Association

At the recent Small Island Nations Roundtable special session organized at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) and the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) discovered not only common needs and interests but also areas where their respective strengths could complement each other in the current disruptive telecom landscape, paving the way for a potentially fruitful collaboration.

Market synergies, Resource Sharing, and Innovative collaboration are some of the key common areas that both parties acknowledged as possibilities for leveraging and complementing each other despite operating in their respective regions.

More importantly, the growing disruptive forces in the telecom landscape highlight the need and potential for cross-regional collaboration in the telecommunications sector. By harnessing their collective strengths and resources, they aim to share and build capacity for smart development while advocating for policies and regulations that promote fairness and equity in the telecommunications sector.

The two groups have pledged to meet to initiate synergies and bridge continents for more collaborative opportunities, with a commitment to involving other regional bodies for a comprehensive approach to addressing shared challenges, maximize the benefits of collective action and drive positive change for all stakeholders involved. Such regional bodies include ECTEL, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority, and CTU, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, for the small island nations.

It’s worth noting that PITA stands out with unique membership categories joining the telecom entities in the region, with Associate memberships of industry players from the Pacific and other regions, as well as government and regulatory agencies, which encompasses ICT Ministries, Regulators, and Academia, thus providing a platform for a more inclusive and diverse representation within the telecommunications landscape.

PITA is thankful for the pivotal role of the GSMA Asia Pacific in facilitating for the small island nation session at this prestigious GSMA annual event.