Telecommunications in Tuvalu

Last updated

Telecommunications in Tuvalu cover Tuvalu's 6 atolls and 3 reef islands. The islands of Tuvalu rely on satellite dishes for communication and internet access.

Contents

The Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TTC), a state-owned enterprise, provides fixed line telephone communications to subscribers on each island and mobile phone services on Funafuti, Vaitupu and Nukulaelae. TTC is a distributor of Fiji Television service (Sky Pacific satellite television service). [1]

Telephones

Telephones - main lines in use: 900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 1300 (2005)

Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite

Radio and television

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2011) - The Tuvalu Media Department of the Government of Tuvalu operates Radio Tuvalu, which broadcasts on the AM frequency. In 2011 the Japanese government provided financial support to construct a new AM broadcast studio. [2] The new AM radio transmitter on Funafuti replaced the FM radio service to the outer islands and freed up satellite bandwidth for mobile services. [1]

Radios: 4,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: TTC is a distributor of Fiji Television service (Sky Pacific satellite television service). [1]

Televisions: unknown number.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Country code (Top level domain): TV (see .tv)

Tuvalu.tv is the sole provider of Internet access in Tuvalu. The ISP is operated by the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Department of the Government of Tuvalu.

In 2012 the available bandwidth was only 512 kbit/s uplink, and 1.5 Mbit/s downlink. Throughout Tuvalu are more than 900 subscribers who want to use the satellite service, with demand slowing down the speed of the entire system. [3] TTC currently operates satellite internet services with less than 20 Mbit/s of capacity. [4] In June 2014 TTC signed a five-year agreement with Kacific Broadband Satellites for the supply of provide high speed bandwidth to the islands of Tuvalu. [4]

From 2017 the service was provided by the Kacific-1 satellite - Ka band High-throughput satellite (HTS) provided by Kacific Broadband Satellites which provided TTC with increased levels of capacity over the period. [4]

In July 2020, the Government of Tuvalu signed a five-year agreement with Kacific for 400 Mbps to 600 Mbps of satellite capacity. the agreement provides a comprehensive turnkey service including sixty 1.2 metre VSAT terminals (satellite dishes) for schools, medical clinics, government agencies and small businesses, forty outdoor WiFi access points to support community connectivity with WiFi hotspots, three maritime antennae to connect ferry services, and one Ka-band antennae to provide trunking and backhaul services for the mobile phone network. [5]

As of February 2022, the delivered satellite capacity into Tuvalu was a combined capacity of 510 mbps split between Agility Beyond Space (ABS) [6] (Ku Band) and Kacific (Ka band). The average download of data per device is about 9 GB/user/month, with 95% of devices in use being 4G/ LTE capable. [7] Also, Tuvalu has 5,915 active broadband users (the largest base of users is on Funafuti), with dedicated satellite and hotspot users on the outer islands, each of which has 3 to 5 hotspots. [7]

Tuvalu Telecommunications and ICT Development Project

In January 2019 the World Bank approved a US$29 million grant for the Tuvalu Telecommunications and ICT Development Project which is intended to boost internet connectivity in Tuvalu, including to the country's outer islands. The project will also support investments in an international optical fiber submarine cable to provide faster, lower-cost internet bandwidth.

The project will include reforms of the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) to redevelop the government-run entity as a public-private partnership (PPP) in cooperation with an experienced international telecommunications operator, which will be selected using a competitive process. [8] [9]

The project will involve the government of Tuvalu using a submarine cable system to connect Funafuti atoll to the international optical fibre network. The private sector partner in the PPP will be responsible for the design, installation and operation of the cable and network. [10] The preferred option is to connect to the proposed Southern Cross NEXT optical fibre project at Nukunonu, Tokelau. [10] As of October 2023, further planning will be carried out to determine the exact cable route and landing site in Funafuti as described in the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). [10]

Related Research Articles

Telecommunications in Gabon include radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications in Gibraltar</span>

Communications in Gibraltar comprise a wide range of telephony systems, Internet access, broadcasting and satellite control. There is also printed and online media. Regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting are the responsibility of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), established by means of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act in 2000.

Luxembourg is recognized for establishing local television and radio stations abroad. The RTL Group, originating from Luxembourg, operates in numerous countries. Additionally, Luxembourg is the base for SES, a leading global satellite operator.

The primary regulator of telecommunications in Malaysia is the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It issues licenses under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Postal Services Act 2012 and the Digital Signature Act 1997.

The People's Republic of China possesses a diversified communications system that links all parts of the country by Internet, telephone, telegraph, radio, and television. The country is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to foreign countries. Fiber to the x infrastructure has been expanded rapidly in recent years.

Telecommunications in Eswatini includes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.

The telecommunication systems in Vanuatu provides voice and data services to the island nation.

In Venezuela the first law on telecommunications was approved in 1940. It identified the responsibility of the state in regard to telephone and other telecommunication systems, including radio and television services.

Telecommunications in Tunisia includes telephones, radio, television, and the Internet. The Ministry of Communication Technologies, a cabinet-level governmental agency, is in charge of organizing the sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internet access</span> Individual connection to the Internet

Internet access is a facility or service that provides connectivity for a computer, a computer network, or other network device to the Internet, and for individuals or organizations to access or use applications such as email and the World Wide Web. Internet access is offered for sale by an international hierarchy of Internet service providers (ISPs) using various networking technologies. At the retail level, many organizations, including municipal entities, also provide cost-free access to the general public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telekom Malaysia</span> Malaysian telecommunications company

Telekom Malaysia Berhad or simply TM is a Malaysian telecommunications company founded in 1984. Beginning as the national telecommunications company for fixed line, radio, and television broadcasting services, it has evolved to become the country's largest provider of broadband services, data, fixed line, pay television, and network services. TM ventured into the LTE space with the launch of TMgo, its 4G offering. TM's 850 MHz service was rebranded as unifi Mobile in January 2018.

Communication services in American Samoa are diversified among telephony, radio broadcasting, television, and Internet services.

Telecommunications in Denmark encompasses a well-developed network of internet, telephone services, and broadcasting stations. Denmark has high internet connectivity and widespread mobile broadband adoption.

Telecommunications in Angola include telephone, radio, television, and the Internet. The government controls all broadcast media with a nationwide reach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National broadband plan</span> National plans to deploy broadband Internet access

Broadband is a term normally considered to be synonymous with a high-speed connection to the internet. Suitability for certain applications, or technically a certain quality of service, is often assumed. For instance, low round trip delay would normally be assumed to be well under 150ms and suitable for Voice over IP, online gaming, financial trading especially arbitrage, virtual private networks and other latency-sensitive applications. This would rule out satellite Internet as inherently high-latency. In some applications, utility-grade reliability or security are often also assumed or defined as requirements. There is no single definition of broadband and official plans may refer to any or none of these criteria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBN Co</span> Australian government broadband network provider

NBN Co Limited, known as simply nbn, is a state-owned corporation of the Australian Government, tasked to design, build and operate Australia's National Broadband Network as the nation's wholesale broadband provider. The corporation reports to two shareholder ministers: the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Communications.

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, consisting of the island of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and the archipelago of Tristan da Cunha including Gough Island. Their communications provision includes dedicated radio and television stations, and telecommunications infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharat Broadband Network</span> Indian central public sector undertaking

BharatNet, also known as Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), is a central public sector undertaking, set up by the Department of Telecommunications, a department under the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India for the establishment, management, and operation of the National Optical Fibre Network to provide a minimum of 100 Mbit/s broadband connectivity to all 250,000-gram panchayats in the country, covering nearly 625,000 villages, by improving the middle layer of nation-wide broadband internet in India to achieve the goal of Digital India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation</span> State-owned Tuvaluan telecommunications company

Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TTC) is a state-owned enterprise of Tuvalu, which provides fixed-line telephone communications to subscribers on each of the islands of Tuvalu. Each island in Tuvalu relies on TTC for the use of a satellite dish for inter-island telephone communication and internet access. TTC also provides mobile phone services on Funafuti and Vaitupu. TTC is the sole provider of Telecommunications in Tuvalu. TTC is established by the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation Act 1993.

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) is a satellite operator providing a high-speed broadband internet service for the South East Asia and Pacific Islands regions. Its first Ka-band HTS satellite, Kacific1, was designed and built by Boeing and launched into geostationary orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle on 16 December 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Andrew McIntyre; Brian Bell & Solofa Uota (February 2012). ""Fakafoou – To Make New": Tuvalu Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Plan" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  2. Endou, Shuuichi (30 December 2011). "New AM Radio Station in Funafuti". Tuvalu-News.TV. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. Atufenua Maui, Tony Kwato'o, Ronald Vetter, Yoshifumi Chisaki, and Tsuyoshi Usagawa (June 2012). Preliminary Use of an E-learning Pilot System for Secondary Educational Institutions in Tuvalu: The Initial Implementation (PDF). The Initial Implementation. International Journal of e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning, Vol. 2, No. 3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 3 "Tuvalu Telecommunications signs broadband deal with Kacific". Voxy.com.nz. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. "Tuvalu Government signs agreement with Kacific for wide-ranging suite of connectivity services". Press Release: Kacific Broadband Satellites Group. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. "ABS Will Provide High-Speed Connectivity To Tuvalu Pacific Islands". satnews. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Tuvalu: Telecommunications and ICT Development Project (P159395) Virtual Support Mission - Aide-Memoire" (PDF). UNDP. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  8. "Affordable, Faster Connectivity for Tuvalu". Press Release: World Bank. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  9. "World Bank promises better internet for Tuvalu". Radio NZ. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 "Tuvalu Fibre Optic Cable Project (TvICT) Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) Rev G" (PDF). World Bank. October 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.