NEW REGULATOR REVEALS HER STRATEGY
By: Asenati Taugasolo Semu
The new Regulator, Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell has already set a strategy when she takes up her new post in the near future.
Amending the 15 year old Telecommunication Act 2005 to match the evolution of technology is her priority.
“I will also review the location and security of our office, our equipment and international best practice to ensure the confidentiality of our work,” said Lematua.
“We will also look at cost model for mobile phone companies’ tariff and the cost of electricity.
“We will look at a staff retainer strategy to keep our employees from leaving especially after gaining essential experiences; and will also have a staff audit review to measure the capacity of our staff so that we can further nurture and up-skill them.”
Lematua is currently the Director and also serves as Acting Secretary General ICT Development-Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO), London United Kingdom.
She holds a Masters in Commerce and Administration from the Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand (2003) complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems Management from the same University.
Leaving her current position in the international arena reflects the commitment by Lematua to serve her country.
Lematua said there’s a need for a Regulator with essential capacity to lead the Office of the Regulator especially in monitoring and managing telecommunication in terms of internet and electricity to make sure these services are secured and affordable by our Samoan people.
“These services should be affordable for all people.
“I’ve decided to leave my current employment and return home to continue the work that I started in introducing mobile phone services into Samoa.”
Lematua said the mobile phones quality of service are not 100 percent and that’s another issue that should be looked at to ensure the cost is favorable to the people.
“There are parts of the country where people are getting poor signals from mobile phone companies.
“Developing the services for telephone companies and the EPC will contribute greatly to achieving the Strategy for the Development of Samoa’s (SDS) vision to ‘An Improved Quality of Life for All’, and the SDS theme in ‘Accelerating Sustainable Development and Broadening Opportunities for All.’”
The internet services according to Lematua is broadly used in any sector of Government like in the Health Sector, Education Sector, and also in the business community despite the fact that this service is very costly.
When Lematua will take up her post is not clear at the moment due to the COVID 19 international lockdown, but she assured the Savali news that she has accepted her appointment.
For Samoa, Lematua is keen for her country to be in the top level in international best practices.
Other issues Lematua put in her priority list are the National Emergency Telecommunication Plan using the internet and the Universal Access Fund which she said were initiated by the former Regulator.
