Only a small percentage of the students at these schools in Savusavu currently have access to broadband internet at home, Ciena said.

The initiative will give students the opportunity to build skills crucial to a digital economy.

Project Semata will support schools in Pacific Island communities for the next two years.

“We have been moving towards e-learning with the installation of interactive boards and overhead projectors for our Years 12 and 13 students and with this timely assistance of free internet, we are able to empower our students with the best in learning. Access to online resources is also helpful to our teachers in furthering the education experience,” said Savusavu Secondary School principal Rusiate Musudroka.

“During the pandemic, Digicel pledged to keep everyone connected. We formed partnerships with the Ministry of Education to give students access to their schools’ virtual learning sites and classes and provided subsidised data plans and zero-rated data access to essential learning sites,” said Digicel Fiji CEO Farid Mohammed.

“Project Semata is part of the Ciena Digital Inclusion program, which is designed to help close the digital divide through greater connectivity, access to technology and digital skilling,” said Ciena Australia New Zealand and the Pacific regional managing director Ivan Polizzi.

“Collaborating with Ciena and Digicel Fiji, we drive the realisation of these benefits, by enabling this high-speed connectivity to reach through to secondary school students in Savusavu,” said Southern Cross CEO Laurie Miller.