Minister Commends ICT Sector Response to COVID-19 Set Up at National Operations Centre

Minister for Information & Communication Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu has commended the information and communication sector in the country for its swift response in establishing the communication set up at the National Operations Centre (NOC) in Waigani to help combat the threat of COVID-19 in the country.

“It’s the fourth day since the State of Emergency (SOE) was declared, and we already have had over 4.4 million Digicel-boosted SMS blasts, over 2, 500 calls, and almost 3, 000 visitors to the Department website (https://covid19.info.gov.pg) and almost 9, 000 followers and likes on its Facebook since.

“Digicel has also ensured that that https://covid19.info.gov.pg and www.health.gov.pg are zero-rated website so Digicel phone customers can have free access to these sources of information, Mr Masiu said.

The Minister said he and his Department and the National Information & Communication Technology Authority (NICTA) had been regularly meeting with the ICT operators since the Ministerial Committee on COVID19 was set up.

“We have been meeting on how best the sector can assist government efforts on combating the COVID-19 issue. As a result, the technical support we have had from the ICT operators like Telikom (PNG), Digicel (PNG), and DataCo has been quite incredible.

“Telikom and Digicel have ensured NOC Call Centre configurations and related technical requirements were established in the shortest time possible, and both have provided volunteer staff to man this call centre.

“DataCo has provided free Internet connectivity while NICTA has extended the deadline for SIM card registration by a further two months.

“The major operators have also cooperated in established a single national toll free number (1800 200) so our people can call in free to the call centre for assistance,” Mr Masiu said. The Minister said he has been assured by the operators that they would be ramping up their efforts in the coming days to ensure the NOC is fully operational and their technical back up support will be readily available when required.

“While there are daily press briefings by the Ministers for Health and Police respectively, we need to put out a lot more simplified awareness and information to our ordinary Papua New Guineans.

“I have asked the NOC media and awareness team, made up of the Departments of Health, Police and Prime Minister & NEC, and the NBC, to simply and fast track awareness materials to our people.

“With a lot of misinformation and anxiety in our communities, we need to quickly step up our media and awareness efforts,” he said. 

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