Telecommunications in Tonga: A Path to Digital Inclusion

Tonga is a small island nation in the Pacific, with a population of around 110,000 people.

The country has made significant progress in expanding its telecommunications network in recent years.

With the help of foreign investment, Tonga's internet penetration rate has increased from just 10% in 2010 to over 40% in 2020.

Mobile phone coverage is now available in most parts of the country, with over 90% of the population having access to mobile phone services.

Tonga's telecommunications sector is expected to continue growing, with plans to increase internet speeds and expand mobile coverage to even more remote areas.

Tonga has a relatively high mobile cellular subscription rate, with 62,104 total subscriptions and 58.48 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2019.

The country's telecommunications system is dominated by mobile technology, which is well-suited to the island's geography. Satellite technology is also widely used, particularly in areas away from the city.

Tonga has a fixed-line teledensity of 6 per 100 persons, while mobile-cellular teledensity is 59 telephones per 100. The country has a fully automatic switched network.

You can access the internet in Tonga, with a total of 43,889 users and 41.25% of the population online in July 2018. The country's internet country code is .to.

The Tonga Communications Corporation provides fixed line, mobile and internet services in Tonga. It has a vision to be the country's no. 1 service provider for information technology & communications technology (ICT) solutions.

Here are some key statistics on Tonga's telecommunications sector:

Tongatapu, the main island, has nearly all of its 4G network coverage thanks to TCC's expansion efforts by 2018.

The rapid development of TCC's network led to a threefold increase in bandwidth and network resource demand from 2014 to 2018.

TCC's 4G network coverage extended to three other major island groups, making it more accessible for residents and visitors alike.

The increased demand for network resources led to limitations related to NAT44 capacity, causing costly upgrades to the firewall.

For more insights, see: Pan-European Network Service

Deploying IPv6 eliminated the ongoing financial burden associated with NAT44 for translating private IPv4 to public IP for Internet access.

TCC's decision to deploy IPv6 future-proofs the network, paving the way for advancements like IoT and other cutting-edge technologies.

A rare incident highlighted the value of IPv6, as it allowed fixed-line customers to access the Internet seamlessly despite an issue with upstream IPv4 transit connectivity.

TCC's proactive approach to IPv6 deployments has been more cost-effective, allowing the company to maintain independence from vendor decisions.

User adoption of IPv6 in Tonga has been gradual but growing, with APNIC Labs statistics showing a significant increase from 1% in August 2023 to 26% in August 2024.

TCC, the only Tongan provider with a visible commitment to IPv6, has been working to educate its staff and the public about the benefits of IPv6. TCC local staff training sessions were conducted to ensure that internal staff were informed about the project before reaching out to external groups.

To help the public enable IPv6 on their devices, TCC broadcast messages informing them that IPv6 is now available on the TCC network and providing details on how to enable it.

Training and Promotion is crucial for user adoption. It's essential to ensure that internal staff are fully informed about a project before reaching out to external groups.

TCC local staff training was conducted on Tongatapu and other major islands. This training session was a great way to get everyone on the same page.

Targeted awareness programs were conducted for government ministries and selected organizations. These programs helped raise awareness about IPv6 and how to enable it on devices.

Broadcast messages were sent to the public, informing them that IPv6 is now available on the TCC network. These messages provided details on how to enable IPv6, such as upgrading iOS devices or changing APN settings on Android devices.

It's clear that a multi-faceted approach to training and promotion is effective. This includes both internal training and external awareness programs.

TCC is the only Tongan provider with a visible commitment to IPv6, as shown by APNIC Labs statistics.

In August 2023, APNIC Labs reported Tonga as being ~1% IPv6 capable.

By August 2024, that figure had grown to 26%, according to APNIC Labs.

Tonga is on the path to becoming a more connected nation, thanks to its vision of being the leading provider of telecommunications in the country.

This vision is centered around driving digital transformation, which will undoubtedly bring many benefits to the people of Tonga.

By achieving this goal, Tonga will be one step closer to becoming a prosperous nation, where everyone has access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.

The goal is ambitious, but it's not impossible, and with the right strategies and investments, Tonga can become a leader in telecommunications in the Pacific region.

The country's vision is not just about providing better services, but also about contributing to the nation's overall development and growth.