부산대학교 도서관

US, Japan, Australia, and other like-minded countries have been active in supporting submarine telecommunication cables linking the Pacific Island countries. This is against a challenging international order, and in particular the military security challenges posed by China. However, 50 years ago, free satellite communications services were provided to Pacific Island countries with support from the US, Australia, NZ, and Japan. The US provided used satellites free of charge and launched PEACESAT, operated by the University of Hawaii, and USPNet, operated by the University of the South Pacific. It was a challenge to the communication divide that existed at that time, which was far from the concept of universal service due to the cost of the monopolistic communication system left by the former colonial countries. History shows that people of the Pacific Island countries did not passively accept the information and communication technologies and policies, but showed a strong “political will.”