Like most countries and territories in Oceania, telecommunications is limited by its isolation and low population,with only one major television broadcasting station and six radio stations, one reaching all islands

However, most residents have a main line or mobile phone. Telecommunications are mainly provided by Blue Sky Cook Islands, 

Teleraro Limited, a consortium, led by the Bluesky Group, purchased a 60% interest in Telecom Cook Islands Limited from Spark New Zealand in February 2015. The consortium includes a Trust which holds 10% of the Teleraro shares on behalf of participating employees in the Cook Islands. It also includes a Trust to hold 15% of the shares of Teleraro for Cook Islanders to purchase.   

Bluesky's product range offers core telecommunication services of fixed-line, mobile, internet  products for the home and individual users as well as to corporate clients (PABX, dedicated lines), international and national (long distance) calling services, prepaid calling cards, wifi/hotspots, e-charges services, mobile products and accessories.

Although Bluesky currently has a monopoly, Government proposes to open the market to competition. There are no restrictions to obtaining local SIM cards and mobile numbers. All that is required is identification. A range of data plans is readily available 7 days a week.

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List

Telecommunication Regulation

Currently Blue Sky Cook Islands is the sole telecommunications service provider. But Government is proposing to open up the market to competition later in 2018.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

There are no specific humanitarian telecommunications systems. UN agencies do not have a permanent presence in the Cook Islands. Other Agencies (Red Cross) use the public network and although they have VSAT telephones, they are not permanently activated due to the on going monthly cost of maintaining a connection.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

 There is a single ISP, Blue Sky, that organisations contract through; businesses connect using either copper lines or fibre cable.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Blue Sky is the sole provider of mobile network.  Government owns 40% and shareholders 60%. It has a physical precence in all 11 of the populated islands.Connectivity is currently via sattelite however there are plans to connect to the Manatua submarine cable. Currently Rarotonga and Atutaki, have 4G coverage, the outer islands have GSM and data through wireless hotspots.  The network is reliable and has approximately 90% national coverage.

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.