The goal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to build partnerships for sharing information between island nations of the Pacific. It is signed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA).

This MoU is a step forward in accountability and ensuring the stability of the Internet. By sharing information, ICANN can learn about the challenges facing small island nations, and PITA will have access to expertise and ideas from other areas facing similar challenges, stressed Dr Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN.

Their objective is to build a non-exclusive partnership seeing information on Internet issues flowing in both directions, promoting regional telecommunications and information technology standards, and aiding in transferring skills, knowledge, and capacity to the Pacific Islands region.

This partnership is a great opportunity for active participation and collaboration of our members in the ICANN process, said Maui Sanford, PITA President. The MOU gives all of our stakeholders – telecommunications companies, vendors, ISPs, and country-code top-level domains – a chance to actively engage in the ICANN discussions as the Internet is part and parcel of the ICT industry.

A more cooperative relationship includes exchange of information on issues relating to the respective organisation’s work, fostering a network of stakeholders and decision makers who can contribute to security, stability, and interoperability, and providing policy information under development and enabling improved participation. Sharing information is at the heart of Internet and it’s important that we exchange ideas that will make sure the Internet works as well as possible no matter where you are and new relationship will help Pacific Islands meet the unique challenges they face, and will help ICANN continue with its mission of ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet’s unique identifier system for users across the globe said Dr Twomey.