Kandrian-Gloucester leaps into digital age

Remote Kandrian-Gloucester in West New Britain, one of the most-isolated and difficult districts in the country, has taken a giant leap into the digital age with three communication towers to be installed there by National Broadcasting Commission.

 Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang last Wednesday signed documents with NBC managing director Memafu Kapera for K3.3 million worth of communication infrastructure to be installed and bring television, radio, mobile phone, and Internet accessibility to the district.

Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang signing documents with NBC managing director Memafu Kapera.

The occasion was witnessed by representatives from Kandrian-Gloucester as well as district budget committee representatives.

“In my electorate there are large black spots where people can’t have access to communication signals,” Lelang said. 

 Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang and NBC managing director Memafu Kapera with the signed documents.

“The project will take eight months for completion so by early next year we should be able to launch everything that we signed for today.

“The total cost of this project is K3.3 million, and upon signing today, we will release K2 million to NBC for them to start procuring towers, and we will pay the rest after that according to the payment schedule.”

 Kandrian-Gloucester MP Joseph Lelang presenting the K2 million payment to NBC managing director Memafu Kapera.

Lelang said NBC had been requested to bring in Kundu 2 Television services into Kandrian-Gloucester by the end of this year.

Kapera said NBC was are rolling out a new concept of telecommunication services in Papua New Guinea between itself, government entities, and the private sector.

“We know that communications is fast changing the lifestyles of many people right across the country, including the rural areas, where the majority of our people live,” he said.

“It’s a concept that we are developing  specifically to partner with the government in setting up district authorities and make them self-reliant in terms of generating revenue and facilitating projects in localities around the country.

“This is the first time this concept has been launched and will be branched out to other areas.”

Lelang, a Secretary for National Planning in his past life, said one of the 2015 Millenium Development Goals was reducing poverty.

“One of the goals is to do with reduction of extreme poverty,” he said.

“Poverty comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms.

“The definition of poverty in this country is one of access problems.

“When people don’t have access to basic services like water, roads, telecommunication, radio services, that’s poverty.”