Satellite communications for the Pacific islands - An alternative to isolation

The Pacific island governments seek solution to their telecommunications requirements. A request for assistance was issued in 1980, and since then, several studies have been undertaken by specialists from technologically advanced countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This paper briefly reviews these studies, the recent interest of Intelsat and the reasons why solutions to Pacific islands communications problems are likely to attract the interest of still other nations and international bodies. A rationale for the continued concern of the United States government and also of the private, commercial sector is also given.