Kumul Cloud Infinity officially launched, opening a new chapter in Papua New Guinea’s digital transformation
Papua New Guinea has taken a major step into the digital future with the official launch of Kumul Cloud Infinity, the country’s Sovereign Cloud and Artificial Intelligence Datacenter.
Minister for State Enterprises, Hon. William Duma, officially launched the facility during a ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday, describing it as a strategic national asset that will strengthen PNG’s digital sovereignty, protect critical information and support economic modernisation.
Minister Duma said national development could no longer focus solely on traditional infrastructure such as roads, ports, airports, power stations and telecommunications networks.
He said digital infrastructure had become equally important, with data now among the world’s most valuable resources, while cloud computing and artificial intelligence were rapidly transforming governments, businesses and communities.
“With Kumul Cloud Infinity, Papua New Guinea is declaring that we will not remain on the sidelines of this transformation,” Minister Duma said.
He said the sovereign cloud would give PNG greater control and responsibility over the security, management and future of the country’s data.
The facility will enable government institutions and businesses to store and process critical information within PNG’s sovereign jurisdiction, helping reduce reliance on offshore infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of the country’s digital economy.
Minister Duma said digital sovereignty must now extend beyond PNG’s land, seas and airspace to include data, digital identities, critical systems and the technology infrastructure supporting the economy.
He said sensitive information generated by government agencies, businesses and citizens including financial, health, education and commercial data must be properly protected and governed.
“Where this information is stored, who can access it, how it is protected and under which legal jurisdiction it is managed are no longer merely technical matters,” he said. “They are matters of national importance and of national sovereignty.”
PNG Eyes AI Opportunities
Minister Duma said Kumul Cloud Infinity comes at a defining time for artificial intelligence, which is transforming healthcare, education, government services, business and industry.
He said PNG must not remain simply a consumer of AI technology but must build the infrastructure, skills and institutional capacity to participate in the growing AI economy.
He pointed to potential applications including AI-supported healthcare in remote communities, improved weather and disaster forecasting, data driven agriculture and education, financial inclusion, law enforcement and public administration.
The Minister said the facility could also support local languages, knowledge and PNG-specific development needs.
He said its success would ultimately be measured by the public services it improves, businesses it enables, jobs it creates and opportunities it provides to ordinary Papua New Guineans.
Minister Duma said young Papua New Guineans should be able to pursue careers as cloud engineers, cybersecurity specialists, software developers, data scientists and AI professionals.
SOEs Join Forces
Minister Duma commended Telikom Limited and Datec PNG Limited for combining their capabilities and working with international technology partners to deliver the initiative.
He said Telikom brought its telecommunications infrastructure, connectivity and national mandate, while Datec PNG contributed ICT capabilities, systems integration experience and technical expertise.
He said the partnership demonstrated what PNG’s State-Owned Enterprises could achieve when they collaborated around a common national purpose.
The Minister also acknowledged CloudSigma, HPE, NVIDIA and other technology and implementation partners involved in the initiative.
He particularly recognised Datec PNG Chief Executive Officer Preetam Talukdar, praising his leadership, determination and commitment to advancing PNG’s digital transformation.
However, Minister Duma stressed that the launch was only the beginning and that Kumul Cloud Infinity must be operated to the highest standards of cybersecurity, governance, reliability and customer service.
He called for continuous investment in Papua New Guinean skills through structured training, certification and knowledge-transfer programmes.
“This national asset must produce not only computing capacity, but also national capability,” he said.
Potential Pacific Digital Hub
Minister Duma said Kumul Cloud Infinity could become a catalyst for wider economic opportunities.
He said SMEs could use cloud technology to access sophisticated digital systems, while established businesses could improve resilience and accelerate innovation.
Government agencies could also benefit from more secure and coordinated digital services.
For the Pacific region, he said the facility could position Papua New Guinea as a trusted hub for cloud and AI services.
Minister Duma called on Government departments, State-Owned Enterprises, financial institutions, universities and private-sector organisations to embrace the platform and explore how it could support their digital transformation.
He then officially declared Kumul Cloud Infinity Papua New Guinea’s Sovereign Cloud and AI Datacenter launched and open for service.