How does Digital RMI advance RMI’s development?

Globally governments and their citizens are increasingly working in a digital world. In a digital world  it matters less where you live – you can still access government services and develop economic opportunities for your families and communities. A digital world means getting better access to  education or health services for all communities in the Marshalls, and particularly for the communities of the neighboring islands

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What do we need to do to get better digital services?

The Government can only deliver digital services though a reliable, affordable, accessible and fast telecommunications service. 

If our children want to access digital lessons at school or we want to provide health services online we need an internet that is reliable, that can be accessible to everyone wherever they live in the RMI. The internet must also be affordable so that more people can connect. 

Our current internet and cell phone services are not meeting our needs. We have unreliable services, slow speeds and high prices. Many of our citizens have limited access to the internet and cell phone services.  This is holding back RMI’s economic and social development.

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How will Digital RMI work?

Digital RMI will do four important things, which combined will enable us to more forward fast towards a strong digital future:

1. Open the market to competition:

We know that satellite provider’s like Starlink are interested in offering services. We also want to attract a suitable telecommunication company to invest alongside the government in new infrastructure. We would enter a contract with this operator in return for a promised period of getting the Government’s telecommunication business

2. Modern infrastructure for all:

It will enable a grant-funded fiber connection to every house, shop and office in Majuro and Ebeye. It will result in a new mobile network and it will provide the neighboring islands with fast internet speeds –similar to those in the US, Australia, and New Zealand.

3. Government sets customer focused rules:

The Government will set service standards, including for reliability of services, speeds of services and dealing with customer complaints. The Government will also contract with the preferred international operator for prices for ordinary users. The international operator will be required to pay the Government penalties if it does not meet the standards and these penalties cannot be recovered from customer prices.

4. Digital Government:

With new infrastructure, more reliable and better services and lower prices, the Government can invest in providing online government services to the people of the RMI. With a strong performing affordable internet service, a citizen with, for example, health concerns, anywhere in the RMI, could access a specialist doctor online, whether that specialist is in the RMI or in the United States or Guam or elsewhere, without having to travel.

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What is the timeline?

The search for the new operator has started and potential operators who meet the Government’s criteria are being invited to apply to be initially selected.

From there draft contracts will be shared with those parties who meet the Government’s criteria and then a formal procurement process will start. The Government is looking to find the best operator who will provide the best outcome for the Government.

At the same time the Government will be making a offer to private shareholders in NTA for their shares. This will be a conditional offer based on enough shareholders accepting the offer and the Government being able to negotiate a suitable contract with the new operator.