Solomon Islands - Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics

Synopsis

The telecommunications market in the Solomon Islands was severely impacted during a period of political and economic instability between 2000 and 2005. During that period many telecommunications facilities were destroyed or damaged and consequently many telecommunications developments and investments were placed on hold. Since 2007 growth in demand and use of both fixed-line and mobile services has increased. Our Telekom (previously Solomon Telecom) enjoys a virtual monopoly over both fixed-line and mobile voice and data services. However in mid-2009 parliament passed the Telecommunications Bill 2009. Under the bill, the provision of mobile services will be opened to competition in April 2010 while Internet services will be opened to competition in April 2011. The passing of this bill represents an enormous opportunity to improve basic access to affordable fixed-line and mobile services in the Solomon Islands. The country has among the lowest penetrations world-wide for fixed-line and mobile services though the number of mobile services has grown swiftly since 2007.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Key statistics
• 3. Country overview
• 4. Telecommunications market
  • 4.1 Overview of Solomon Islands’ telecom market
  • 4.2 Regulatory environment
    • 4.2.1 Telecommunications Bill 2009
  • 4.3 Network operators
    • 4.3.1 Solomon Telekom Co Ltd (Our Telecom)
• 5. Fixed-line services
• 6. Mobile communications
  • 6.1 Subscriber statistics
• 7. Internet and broadband services
  • 7.1 Broadband market
    • 7.1.1 ADSL network
    • 7.1.2 Wireless broadband
    • 7.1.3 Satellite Internet
  • 7.2 Internet Domain names
  • 7.3 Community projects
    • 7.3.1 People First Network (PFnet) rural connectivity project
    • 7.3.2 Broadband
    • 7.3.3 Wireless expansion
    • 7.3.4 One Laptop per Child
• 8. Broadcasting
  • 8.1 Television broadcasting
  • 8.2 Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)
• 9. Telecommunications infrastructure
  • 9.1 National and international
    • 9.1.1 Network upgrade
  • 9.2 Impact of ethnic unrest on telecoms network
• 10. Related reports

• Table 1 – Country statistics – 2009
• Table 2 – Telephone network statistics – 2009
• Table 3 – Internet provider statistics
• Table 4 – Internet user statistics – 2008
• Table 5 – Mobile statistics – 2008
• Table 6 – National telecommunications authority
• Table 7 - Mobile penetration in Oceania by country – 2003-2008
• Table 8 - Fixed line services – 1999 – 2010
• Table 9 – Mobile subscribers and forecast – 1999 - 2010
• Table 10 – Internet subscribers and forecast – 1999 – 2010
• Table 11 - Estimated Internet users – 1999 – 2009