The telecommunications infrastructure is well-established and almost 90% of the country has telephone and Internet coverage. There are 2 major telecommunication companies present, Blue Sky and Digicel, providing a competitive marketplace. There are no restrictions on obtaining SIM cards and mobile numbers, other than providing ID. Data plans are readily available through either of these 2 companies, or several smaller ISP companies.
E-Sky is a privatised Public Body. 25% is still held by the Unit Trust Of Samoa (UTOS), an investment vehicle that lets Samoan citizens take a stake in the company.
Digicel is a company owned by the Irish billionaire Dennis O’Brian, incorporated in Bermuda, and based in Jamaica.
For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.8 Additional Service Provision Contact List
Telephone Services |
|
---|---|
Is there an existing landline telephone network? |
Yes |
Does it allow international calls? |
Yes |
Number and Length of Downtime Periods (on average) |
nil |
Mobile Phone Providers |
Blue Sky Digicel |
Approximate Percentage of National Coverage |
99% |
Telecommunications Regulations
The Office Of The Regulator is responsible for the issuing of all licenses in regards telecommunications and wireless transmissions. There are regulations in place for all the forms of communication listed below and permission must be granted before. For VSAT devices such as handheld Thurayas, they may be brought into the country and used with no special permission, provided an external link provider has already connected them.
Regulations on Usage and Import |
||
---|---|---|
Regulations in Place? |
Regulating Authority |
|
Satellite |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
HF Radio |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
UHF/VHF/HF Radio: Handheld, Base and Mobile |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
UHF/VHF Repeaters |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
GPS |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
VSAT |
Yes |
Office of the Regulator |
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required |
||
Yes |
||
Frequency Licenses Required |
||
Yes |
Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems
Only the larger UN agencies have VSAT phones (see table below). All agencies have radios, however since UNDSS agency left the country in 2015, they do not have a dedicated frequency to operate on.
Existing UN Telecommunication Systems |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UNDP |
FAO |
ILO, UNEP, WMO, UNWomen, UNFPA |
UNICEF |
WHO |
UNESCO |
|
VHF Frequencies |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
N0 |
HF Frequencies |
N0 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Locations of Repeaters |
N/A |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
N/a |
VSAT |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
The Disaster Management Office and Red Cross are the only agencies that use the Emergency Radio Network (ERN).
DMO |
Red Cross |
CARITAS |
Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
VHF Frequencies |
Emergency Radio Network (ERN)
|
N/a |
N/a |
|
HF Frequencies |
N/a |
N/a |
||
Locations of Repeaters |
Upolo - Mt. Vaea, Mt. Fiamoe, Mt. Tafua Upolu, Vaovai, Afulilo Dam, Fagaloa PAS, Faleapuna & Richarson Road Savai’i - Mt. Tagotala, Mt. Lepiu, Mt. Tufutafoe, Mt. Olomanu. |
N/a |
N/a |
|
VSAT |
Yes |
Yes |
N/a |
N/a |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
There are a number of ISPs available that organizations are able to contract through, used by Samoan businesses. Reliability and bandwidths are good (4G is readily available). Netvo provides a VSAT connection, and the other providers do so via cable connection (leased from Blue Sky’s).
Internet Service Providers |
||
---|---|---|
Are there ISPs available? |
Yes |
|
If yes, are they privately or government owned? |
Both |
|
Dial-up only? |
No |
|
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $) |
Dial-up |
N/A |
Broadband |
T$500/unlimited/month |
|
Max Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth |
10 MGB/Sec |
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
There are 2 MNO companies operating; Sky has 100% 3G coverage of the country, and Digicel which has 75% country coverage.
Both offer similar services including mobile money. Blue Sky has superior coverage and 4G+ in urban areas, whilst Digicel has lesser coverage and achieves a maximum of 3G speeds.
For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.
Company |
Number of Agent Outlets by Area |
Network Strength by Area |
Contracted for Humanitarian or Government Cash Transfer Programmes? |
Services Offered
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Sky |
7 nationwide |
Urban 4G+ Rural 3G |
No |
Merchant Payment, bulk disbursement, receive and make payments |
Digicel |
7 nationwide |
Urban 4G Rural 2-3G |
No |
Merchant Payment, bulk disbursement, receive and make payments |