Solomon Islands - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Telecoms in the Solomon Islands to benefit from various developments

Improvements to Internet services are expected with both the build-out of a new submarine cable known as the Coral Sea Cable System which will link PNG to the Solomon Islands, with a connecting cable to the Australian (Sydney) landing station. In addition, the planned launch of the Kacific-1 satellite in late 2019 should also improve broadband satellite capacity for the Solomon Islands.

In recent years, the country has stabilised both politically and economically – and this, along with improvements to mobile infrastructure – has led to a sharp rise in mobile penetration.

Recent 3G mobile network expansions and upgrades by the two major operators, Our Telekom (operating as Breeze) and Bmobile-Vodafone, are improving mobile services and in turn driving uptake, including an increase in mobile broadband subscriptions. While the first 4G LTE services were launched in late 2017 in the capital Honiara; it is still 3G, and in many cases 2G, which is the main source of mobile telephony.

Various international organisations such as The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have taken a special interest in seeing communication services improved in both the Solomon Islands and Pacific region in general. The Australian government is assisting by providing the majority of funding for the new submarine cable system, with contributions and support also coming from both governments from the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Key developments:

Smart phone penetration should almost double between 2018-2025 in The Solomon Islands.
The first 4G LTE network was launched in November 2017 by Our Telekom.
By 2018 the percentage of mobile connections using 4G LTE services was extremely low.

Companies covered in this report include:

Our Telekom (Breeze); Bmobile-Vodafone; Kacific Broadband Satellite, O3b, Solomon Island Submarine Cable Company.

Table of Contents

Key statistics
Country overview
Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis
National Development Strategy 2016 – 2035

Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Regulatory authority

Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI)

Telecommunications Bill 2009
Licensing fees

Telecommunications supplementary licence fee regulations 2017

Interconnection adjudication
Spectrum management
Broadcasting policy
Network sharing

Fixed network operator in Solomon Islands

Solomon Telekom Co Ltd (Our Telekom)

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Satellite networks
Submarine cable

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis

Internet downloading

Mobile communications

Market analysis

Historical overview
Current market

Mobile statistics
Mobile broadband statistics
Mobile infrastructure

GSM, 3G
4G LTE

Major mobile operators

Breeze
Bmobile / Vodafone

Mobile content and applications

m-Banking (payments/loans)

Mobile handsets
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities- Solomon Islands – 2019 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP and inflation in Solomon Islands – 2012 – 2019
Table 3 – Solomon Islands - Internet subscribers by technology (actual) – 2016; 2017
Table 4 – Solomon Islands - telecommunications sector revenue – 2016; 2017
Table 5 – Solomon Islands - fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2009 – 2019
Table 6 – Solomon Islands - International bandwidth – 2004 – 2017
Table 7 – Solomon Islands - fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2019
Table 8 – Solomon Islands - mobile subscriptions and penetration rate – 2009 – 2019
Table 9 – Solomon Islands - annual mobile sector ARPU – 2016; 2017
Table 10 – Solomon Islands - mobile broadband subscribers and user penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 11 – Solomon Islands – percentage of mobile connections by technology – 2018; 2025

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Solomon Islands - mobile subscriptions versus mobile broadband subscriptions – 2010 – 2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Our Telekom at a glance
Exhibit 2 – Vodafone moved into the market in 2014

Related Reports

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Licence Information

Focus Report Profile

Technologies

Broadband Fixed
Broadcasting
Companies (Major Players)
Digital Economy
Digital Media
Internet
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Regulations & Government Policies
Telecoms Infrastructure

Number of pages 42

Status Current

Last updated 17 May 2019
Update History

Analyst: Kylie Wansink

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