Telecommunications to a Tribal People, PNG

“Telecommunications in the Western Province”

Documentary to air on EMTV, November 28th at 8pm

Produced and Directed by Stephen Rae, Media Haus Productions, Port Moresby for PNG Sustainable Development

Article by Stephen Rae published in PNGSDP Magazine 2013

Western Province, Papua New Guinea, a land of dense forest, swamps, flatlands, extensive waterways, boasts PNG’s largest lake system, the infamous Fly River, barramundi, mountain ranges, the Hindenburg Wall and Gold, and plenty of it.

This is the largest and least populated province in the country. With close to two hundred thousand people, many scattered in villages in some of the most remote and un-inhabitable places, in not only in PNG, but the world.

River voyagers of over 3000 km must be made to carry cargo and bring life to the people in these rural areas. There is a limited road infrastructure, and with air travel time schedules, that changes daily if not hourly.

In this environment PNG Sustainable Development has embarked to upon a project to build a 58 multifunctional tower network, that will enable the province like the rest of the country to connect through mobile phones and other services.

Specialists from around the world, work with PNG citizens to make the communication a reality. But construction in these jungles is not easy, construction bosses say the “toughest place in the world to undertake such a project”.

This Wednesday night 28th on EMTV 8.00pm, airs the film “Telecommunications in the Western Province Part One”. Produced by Independent local film maker Stephen Rae and crew of Media Haus Productions from Port Moresby. They travelled throughout the province over a six month period jumping in canoes, fixed wing aircraft, trekking , helicopter and by road to film the construction process and talk with the people of Western Province about their expectations and possible changes of what the towers would bring to their lives.

For those that know little of the Western Province, this documentary will give you an insight into the province rarely before, see traditional villagers and witness hardships of life faced by many. Step inside the hospital as the cholera epidemic rages in Dar,u that killing over 300 people in the summer of 2010/ 11. Visit Bensbach Wild Life lodge for fishing, land on remote mountain peaks, and travel to the almost forgotten station of Telfomin.

A must see TV viewing, for Papua New Guinea is changing and its future is unsure, with traditions slowly fading away and a resource boom that captivates the nation.