THE new satellite for the University of the South Pacific (USP) Tuvalu Campus was commissioned by the New Zealand Minister for Pacific People, Aupito William on Tuesday, August 13, 2019.
Dr Giulio Paunga, USP Vice-President Regional Campuses and Estates and Infrastructure said the event, “marks the accomplishment of our dream that we believe will make a great impact on higher education and development in Tuvalu”.
He said the new satellite expresses the dedication of the Government of Tuvalu, the New Zealand Government and USP towards collaborating for the development of Tuvalu’s higher education system – and therefore the development of the country since education is the backbone of all development.
Dr Paunga acknowledged USP’s long term development partner, New Zealand, for their assistance to USP in boosting connectivity at regional campuses through its donation of the new satellite dish for the USP Tuvalu Campus.
The New Zealand government’s donation will see nine campuses receiving new satellites; Tuvalu being the first, Niue, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands.
The satellite is one of the two funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) for USP’s Tuvalu Campus, as part of the USPNet upgrade where nine regional campuses will be receiving new satellites to improve their ICT services.
