Pacific Regional Connectivity Program 2:FSM Connectivity Project

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The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Palau (Palau) are partnering with the World Bank under the Palau-FSM Connectivity Project (P130592) and the Technical Assistance (TA) Project (P132686). The two governments have requested the Bank's support in reforming and investing in improved access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The Palau-FSM Connectivity Project, funded by the International Development Association (IDA), comprises the first component of the support program. It is focused on reducing the cost and increasing the availability of international bandwidth for FSM through catalytic public investments in telecommunications infrastructure. The Technical Assistance Project, which is financed by the Australian Government under the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) Trust fund, comprises the second component of the program. The TA grant, signed in September 2013, will provide advisory support and capacity-building needed to support sector reform and liberalization in FSM and Palau. Overall, both projects are expected to increase the availability of ICT infrastructure and enable the more widespread application of ICT services towards improvements in economic and social development in these countries.