Telikom Limited, in partnership with Datec PNG and CloudSigma, has officially pre-launched Papua New Guinea’s first Sovereign AI Data Centre, marking a transformative milestone in the nation’s digital journey.

The initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening Papua New Guinea’s digital independence, ensuring that critical national data is securely hosted within the country under local governance frameworks.

Speaking at the launch, State Enterprises Minister William Duma described the data centre as a “strategic national asset”, emphasizing its role in safeguarding national data, strengthening cybersecurity, and enabling more efficient and transparent government services.

“This data centre ensures our data remains within our borders, our systems are secured under our own governance, and our businesses can innovate with confidence,” Minister Duma said. “It is a foundation for digital independence, economic empowerment, and national security.”

The facility is designed to support high-performance computing, artificial intelligence workloads, secure cloud adoption, and advanced data analytics—unlocking new opportunities for businesses and public sector organisations across Papua New Guinea.

Our Chief Executive Officer (Amos Tepi OBE), highlighted the significance of the launch in reshaping the country’s digital future.

“For many years, much of our data has been stored offshore, meaning our systems, services, and growth relied on infrastructure beyond our control,” said Mr. Tepi. “Today marks a turning point. With this sovereign data centre, Papua New Guinea takes ownership of its digital future.”

The initiative is also expected to empower local enterprises by providing access to scalable, secure, and locally governed digital infrastructure, enabling them to compete on a global stage.

Chairman of DatecPNG, Moses Maladina, underscored the importance of maintaining data ownership within national borders.

“This model ensures that data is brought home and governed under Papua New Guinea’s laws. That is the essence of true digital sovereignty,” he said.

Beyond infrastructure, the Sovereign AI Data Centre is positioned as a catalyst for innovation and human development, supporting smarter decision-making, accelerating digital transformation, and unlocking new economic opportunities.

This landmark collaboration between Telikom Limited, Datec PNG, and CloudSigma signals a bold step forward in building a resilient, secure, and future-ready digital ecosystem for Papua New Guinea.