Friday 6th June, 2025
The Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) and State-Owned Enterprise (SoE) DataCo PNG Ltd have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in advancing Papua New Guinea’s digital and physical infrastructure. The signing ceremony, held at the Works 4 Mile Headquarters on Friday, June 6, 2025, marks a significant step in integrating telecommunications infrastructure alongside national road networks under the Government’s Connect PNG Economic Infrastructure Investment Program.
Speaking at the signing, Secretary for Works & Highways Gibson Holemba emphasized the importance of cross-agency coordination in achieving national infrastructure goals.
“This MoU marks a significant occasion not just in the ICT space but at the inter-agency level of Government collaboration on implementing the Connect PNG Telecommunication System Project for the first time since independence,” Mr. Holemba stated.
“We need each other to successfully deliver the Government’s flagship Connect PNG Economic Infrastructure Investment Program.”
The MoU facilitates cooperation between DoWH and DataCo PNG Ltd in integrating digital connectivity within national road corridors, furthering the Government’s vision of improving both physical and digital infrastructure nationwide.
DataCo PNG Ltd, as a State-Owned Enterprise, operates under the Companies Act and is responsible for building and maintaining PNG’s National Transmission Network (NTN), cloud infrastructure, and associated digital services.
DataCo PNG Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Paul Komboi, highlighted the strategic importance of resilient infrastructure, particularly for island and rural provinces, and the advantage of embedding telecommunications infrastructure within the national road network.
“The road network managed by the Department of Works and Highways will give us that resilient access. This partnership is crucial for ensuring connectivity, as we integrate telecommunications with national road corridors,” said Mr. Komboi.
DOWH Secretary outlined the Connect PNG Telecommunication System Project as a core element of the MoU, which introduces an aerial fiber network distribution strategy that aligns with ongoing infrastructure expansion.
Key aspects of collaboration outlined in the MoU include:
- Implementation of fiber optic cable installations along major road corridors.
- Embedding digital connectivity in all major infrastructure developments under the Connect PNG program.
- Supporting DoWH in adopting digital solutions for project planning and monitoring.
- Partnering on projects where telecommunications integration is critical.
- Establishing working groups to oversee project implementation and alignment with national infrastructure priorities.
Secretary Holemba stated that the partnership between DoWH and DataCo PNG Ltd will stimulate economic activities and improve service delivery across urban and rural communities.
“By embedding digital connectivity into infrastructure projects, the initiative supports digital transformation in the PNG infrastructure sector while laying the foundation for nationwide resilience in data and communications.”
Papua New Guinea prepares to celebrate 50 years of independence on September 16, 2025, and this collaboration represents a forward-looking commitment to economic development, accessibility, and innovation.