There are only private companies involved in the market. No restrictions to registering SIMS or mobile numbers. Data plans readily available. 3G/4G services are available.
There is limited competition. ATH is main provider with 1 further provider attempting to enter the market but as yet still going through necessary Government registration procedures (no connectivity between the 2 networks).
For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List
|
Telephone Services |
|
|---|---|
|
Is there an existing landline telephone network? |
Yes/Limited to urban Tarawa |
|
Does it allow international calls? |
Yes |
|
Number and Length of Downtime Periods (on average) |
No |
|
Mobile Phone Providers |
ATH |
|
Approximate Percentage of National Coverage |
90% |
Telecommunication Regulation
No restrictions in place to bringing telecommunications equipment into the country.
|
Regulations on Usage and Import |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Regulations in Place? |
Regulating Authority |
|
|
Satellite |
Yes |
Government. License offered base on band such as Cband/KA or KU |
|
HF Radio |
Yes |
Government. Licensed offered strictly on frequency |
|
UHF/VHF/HF Radio: Handheld, Base and Mobile |
Yes |
Government. License offered based on number of Handheld units or handsets of any type |
|
UHF/VHF Repeaters |
Yes |
Government. License is strictly on frequency |
|
GPS |
No |
N/a |
|
VSAT |
Yes |
Government. License is base of antenna size |
|
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required |
||
|
|
||
|
Frequency Licenses Required |
||
|
Yes through Government ministry. |
||
Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems
The UN organisations have a basic communications centre based at their South Tarawa offices. Sharing this system may be possible but in practicality is a small and not very comprehensive system.
|
UNDP |
UN WOMEN |
UNICEF |
RED CROSS |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
VHF Frequencies |
YES |
YES |
YES |
No |
|
HF Frequencies |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Locations of Repeaters |
No repeater |
No repeater |
No repeater |
No repeater |
|
VSAT |
YES |
YES |
YES |
No |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Christmas Island
From Fiji Vodaphone and SPEEDCAST (Aust) Satellite available over all of Christmas Island through ATH. (satellite) Sole provider. The system appears very reliable. Businesses will connect through ATH provided systems and equipment to Satellite Internet.
|
Internet Service Providers Tarawa |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Are there ISPs available? |
Yes |
|
|
If yes, are they privately or government owned? |
Private (Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Kiribati Ltd) |
|
|
Dial-up only? |
No |
|
|
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $) |
Dial-up |
|
|
Broadband |
$AUD40/4000MB/month. $US32/4000MB/month. |
|
|
Max Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth |
10 MPBP |
|
|
Internet Service Providers Christmas Island |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Are there ISPs available? |
Yes |
|
|
If yes, are they privately or government owned? |
Private (Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Kiribati Ltd) |
|
|
Dial-up only? |
No |
|
|
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $) |
Dial-up |
1 MPBP/$1200 AUD/month |
|
Broadband |
n/a |
|
|
Max Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth |
10 MPBP |
|
|
Internet Service Providers Outer Islands |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Are there ISPs available? |
Some have 3G |
|
|
If yes, are they privately or government owned? |
Private (Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Kiribati Ltd) |
|
|
Dial-up only? |
No |
|
|
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $) |
Dial-up |
N/a |
|
Broadband |
$AUD40/4000MB/month. $US32/4000MB/month. |
|
|
Max Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth |
N/a |
|
|
Comments |
Microwave links using dedicated wireless radio link (IPVPN) if available ISP 70% penetration in urban areas |
|
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
Coverage and reliability of the dominant provider ATH is good
and improvement and expansion of coverage is on going.
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 (i.e. Merchant Payment, Bulk Disbursement, Receive & Make Payment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ATH (Tarawa) |
486
|
70%-90% |
Contracted |
Received & make payment |
|
ATH (Christmas Island) |
65 |
70%-80% |
Contracted |
Received & make payment |
|
Outer Islands |
7 |
80% on council areas only |
Both |
Received and make payment |
