Vanuatu Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 13 Aug 2024 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 85

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Vanuatu completes its universal access project

Vanuatu’s telecom sector is dominated by mobile voice and data services. In this market, Vodafone Vanuatu competes with Digicel, which launched services in 2008 and was sold to Telstra in 2022 when Digicel Group offloaded its Digicel Pacific operations. Competition in the mobile sector provided considerable advantages, stimulating investment between the licensees as well as pressure on pricing. Services soon became available throughout the islands, and with the completion of the first subsea cable access prices for key services such as mobile broadband fell by some 95%. Together with the universal service scheme part funded by the government and overseen by the telecom regulator, mobile services have been extended to all but a few remaining settlements. These are covered by satellite connectivity, including the AelanSat service which came online in September 2022.

Recent infrastructure projects have improved access technologies, with a transition to 3G and LTE underway and with the first deployment of 5G, albeit based on 5G-enabled routers.

While the mobile sector has three licensed operators, Vodafone Vanuatu (formerly Telecom Vanuatu) is the only provider of fixed-line telephony, though its licence is non-exclusive. The fixed line-telephone network remains the backbone of communications for many businesses, government institutions, and individuals in Vanuatu. Landline customers are gradually being migrated from copper infrastructure to fibre, which provides voice services via VoIP.

Several companies offer broadband services, though fixed broadband penetration remains low due to relatively high pricing and poor coverage. Continued investment in submarine cable connections, including a cable providing a direct link to New Caledonia expected to come online in 2025, will also help increase data rates and reduce internet pricing over the coming years.

Key developments:

Vodafone Vanuatu launches Vanuatu’s first transmission satellite backhaul system to deliver connectivity to remote islands and provide a backup for subsea cables.
UAP program gains extension to address remaining unserved areas.
Google and ATH aiming to build two new subsea cables boosting capacity for several Oceania territories, including Vanuatu.
Interchange’s AelanSat satellite broadband service comes online.
Wave partners with 3 Link to launch internet services based on 5G routers.
Report update includes the regulator’s annual report for 2022, market data updates for 2023, company updated for fiscal 2023, recent market developments.

Companies covered in this report include:

Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), Vodafone Vanuatu (Telecom Vanuatu), Digicel Vanuatu, WanTok.

Key statistics
Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Historic overview
Regulatory projects
Regulatory authority
Privatisation of Telecom Vanuatu
Market liberalisation
Interconnect
Spectrum
National ICT Policy
Universal Access Policy (UAP)
Competition issues
SIM card registration
Shared tower infrastructure

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
GSM, 3G

Major mobile operators

Vodafone Vanuatu
Digicel Vanuatu

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Fixed network operator

Vodafone Vanuatu

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine
Satellite broadband

Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level country statistics and telecoms authorities – Vanuatu – 2024 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Vanuatu – 2012 – 2024
Table 3 – Change in average mobile voice pricing (VUV per minute) – 2019 – 2022
Table 4 – Total gross telecom revenue – 2014 – 2022
Table 5 – Development of mobile revenue by service (VUV million) – 2014 – 2022
Table 6 – Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 7 – Change in mobile traffic by service – 2014 – 2022
Table 8 – Change in the average SMS price (VUV per message) – 2014 – 2022
Table 9 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Table 10 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2014 – 2022
Table 11 – Total international outbound call minutes traffic – 2014 – 2022
Table 12 – Mobile ARPU by service (VUV per user per month) – 2017 – 2022
Table 13 – Increase in the number of Vodafone Vanuatu’s mobile subscribers – 2021 – 2023
Table 14 – Development of Vodafone Vanuatu’s financial data (FJD million) – 2018 – 2023
Table 15 – Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 16 – Development of fixed broadband revenue – 2014 – 2022
Table 17 – Development of fixed internet ARPU – 2016 – 2022
Table 18 – Development of fixed line voice revenue – 2014 – 2022
Table 19 – Total fixed line call traffic – 2014 – 2020
Table 20 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 21 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2022

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Change in average mobile voice pricing (VUV per minute) – 2019 – 2022
Chart 2 – Total gross telecom revenue – 2014 – 2022
Chart 3 – Development of mobile revenue by service – 2014 – 2022
Chart 4 – Increase in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 5 – Change in mobile traffic by service – 2014 – 2022
Chart 6 – Change in the average SMS price – 2014 – 2022
Chart 7 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2027
Chart 8 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2014 – 2022
Chart 9 – Total international outbound call minutes traffic – 2014 – 2022
Chart 10 – Mobile ARPU by service – 2017 – 2022
Chart 11 – Development of Vodafone Vanuatu’s financial data – 2018 – 2023
Chart 12 – Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 13 – Development of fixed broadband revenue – 2014 – 2022
Chart 14 – Development of fixed internet ARPU – 2016 – 2022
Chart 15 – Development of fixed line voice revenue – 2014 – 2022
Chart 16 – Total fixed line call traffic – 2014 – 2020
Chart 17 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 18 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2022

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Vanuatu Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Vanuatu completes its universal access project

Key developments:

Companies covered in this report include:

Key statistics

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operator

Telecommunications infrastructure

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views