Bridging in the South Pacific

The University of South Pacific (http://www.usp.fj) based in Sauva, Fiji is, arguably, the oldest distance education network in the world. Formed in 1962, USP has used a combination of telephone, earth satellite stations and radio to teach in 19 island countries including Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribatti, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Marshall Islands.

DETAC Corporation was selected to supply two (2) Forum Corporation audio teleconference bridges in Fiji to replace antique technology. The units had to be reprogrammed and tuned to work with campus phones, PBX and satellite connection together.

In February 1996, representatives of DETAC Corporation and Forum Communications International met in Sauva to install the new digital distance education hardware. This involved revamping the network control room and significant network testing. It was a great complement to DETAC to be selected as the knowledgeable supplier. Forum Communications did an excellent job of providing a special set-up and on-site chip level programming.

To ensure that the installation was done accurately both DETAC Corporation and Forum Communications volunteered both time and travel cost to work with USP officials to guarantee a successful installation.

Forum Communications wrote a story about the event in its Conference Calls Newsletter a few months after the installation.

Lest the reader get the wrong idea, it was the rainy season in Sauva on the Leeward side of the island with no sandy beaches.

Since the installation, Forum Communications has provided support to Fiji to further service and modify the operation of the system.

Life goes on in the 35th year of continuous distance education at USP.