Tonga - 3.4 Telecommunications

Overview

Mobile phone and internet services are available throughout the country, including smaller and more remote communities.  

Connectivity from the main island of Tongatapu to outer islands via microwave connectivity is improving the data speeds accessible on the outer islands, by reducing the dependency on satellite-based internet connectivity. Tongatapu was connected to a submarine cable in 2013. Tonga Cable Limited (TCL) is a public enterprise and its three shareholders are the Tonga Government 66.6%, Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) 16.7%, and Digicel Tonga Limited 16.7%. TCL was formed in November 2009 with the approval of the Government of Tonga to build and manage a submarine fibre optic connecting Tonga to Fiji, which was commissioned in August 2013.  

The cable is 827 kilometres long and has its cable landing station at Sopu, a suburb of Nukuʻalofa in Tonga, and in Suva, Fiji. It provides 20 Gbps through its branching into the trans-Pacific Southern Cross Cable in Suva. An extension of the cable to Haʻapai and Vavaʻu was commissioned in April 2018. The segment of the cable was shattered and destroyed in multiple places during the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption in January 2022, new cable was manufactured and the two recoverable ends of the cable were re-joined with the new segment and service was restored slightly over a month after the eruption.   

AM radio remains one of the most important communication channels in Tonga to reach communities for early warning and disaster recovery messages. AM radio plays an important role in sending messages to outer island communities including information about scheduled arrivals of shipping and airline services and has a vital role in broadcasting regular weather reports and cyclone and tsunami warnings. It is a vital lifeline during times of natural disasters. The Government of Tonga is working with the JICA (Government of Japan) to increase the resilience of the AM radio network in the country. 

There are three telecommunications network operators in Tonga, namely, Digicel , TCC and WanTok. Digicel Tonga (formerly TonFon) is a privately owned company and Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) is a state-owned public enterprise. TCC has a strategic partnership alliance with Vodafone Fiji.  

In 2016, Digicel deployed what was, at the time, the world’s longest microwave relay (189 kilometres) stationed on Kao Island, an uninhabited volcanic island in the Ha’apai group. It connects the islands of Tongatapu, Eua, Ha’apai, and Vava’u. The link supplied data connectivity with a capacity of 200Mbps to Ha’apai and 600Mbps to Vava’u. The site was running on an autonomous power supply (solar, batteries, diesel generators) until it stopped working after the HT-HH eruption in January 2022. In late 2022, Digicel repaired and upgraded the link. (https://www.etcluster.org/document/tonga-volcanic-eruptiontsunami-global-etc-teleconference-17-26-october-2022 )  

WanTok is the most recent inclusion into the market, launched in 2021 with Headquarters in Port Vila, Vanuatu. WanTok provides mobile services, banking solutions, wireless broadband and cloud hosting services. They also provide internet broadband services via its radio links to customers and businesses with coverage of 70 to 80% on Tongatapu only.  

There are no restrictions on obtaining SIM cards for mobile telephone connectivity. Photo identification must be supplied when purchasing a SIM card. Data plans are readily available. 

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. Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) is the only fixed line operator in Tonga with a 100% market share on fixed telephone lines. TCC is a public enterprise and falls under the Tonga Ministry of Public Enterprise
Does it allow international calls?	Yes, international calling is available from fixed and mobile networks.
Number and Length of Downtime Periods (on average)	Information not available. Occurs infrequently .
Mobile Phone Providers	There are three mobile network operators – TCC (U-Call), Digicel Tonga and WanTok Tonga. The three mobile network operators offer GSM and 3G services, including mobile broadband.
Approximate Percentage of National Coverage	The Digicel network has coverage across Tonga except to the northern group of islands, called Nuias. It has backup systems running on generators, solar with batteries.    The UCall (TCC) network covers all of Tonga including the northern group of islands such as Niuafo‘ou, Niuatoputapu, Nomuka and Ha‘afeva.    WanTok Tonga has 80% coverage for Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vavau only and not in any other islands.

Telecommunications Regulations 

The Department of Communications, under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), is the party responsible for licensing relating to frequencies, and importation of telecommunications equipment. The Kingdom of Tonga is a party to Tampere Convention via accession. The Tampere Convention provides concessions relating to the importation of telecommunications equipment during disaster times. 

Regulations on Usage and Import 

	Regulations in Place?	Regulating Authority
Satellite	Yes	Department of Communications, under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC)  www.mic.gov.to
HF Radio	Yes
UHF/VHF/HF Radio: Handheld, Base and Mobile	Yes
UHF/VHF Repeaters	Yes
GPS	Yes
VSAT	Yes
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required
Yes. Department of Communications, MEIDECC (www.mic.gov.to)
Frequency Licenses Required
Yes. Department of Communications, MEIDECC (www.mic.gov.to)

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems 

Various telecommunications systems are in place in Tonga, including a VHF and HF radio network that is used by the NDRMO and Meteorological services. A discussion is underway to implement a common emergency channel shared between first response agencies (proposal is to reuse the existing frequencies already used by the NDRMO). In the event of disaster, it is recommended that the humanitarian community configure the existing radio channels used by the NEMO (with approval from the NDRMO and Met Services). The Tonga Red Cross have satellite phones at various locations. 

Existing Telecommunication Systems 

	UN	Met Service/NEMO	Coasta I Radio	Police	Fire	Defence	Dept of Communications
VHF Frequencies	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	UHF only	Yes	N/A
HF Frequencies	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	N/A
Location of Repeaters	N/A	0	0	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	N/A
VSAT	No	-	-	-	-	-	Currently deploying a VSAT network (with ITU) at multiple sites.

 

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

Internet is available on all islands, and organisations can contract directly with private ISPs for their internet service. Major ISPs are DigiNET (Digicel) and Kalianet (TCC). Internet over mobile broadband is also available subject to the network coverage of the mobile network operators (Digicel and TCC). 

Internet Service Providers
Are there ISPs available?	ISPs available in Tonga, specifically Digicel, TCC and WanTok.    TCC's ISP service is called “Kalianet”. Kalianet is available throughout Tongatapu (main island), Ha'apai, Vava'u, and 'Eua using WiMax broadband, and through dial-up from the two Niuas (northernmost islands). TCC also offers leased line services, and mobile broadband through their U-Call mobile network.     Digicel’s ISP service is called “DigiNET”. It offers high speed internet connectivity across Tonga.    WanToks ISP service is called “Toko wireless”. It offers high speed internet connectivity across Tongatapu.    The introduction of an undersea high-speed fibre-optic cable in 2013 by Tonga Communications Limited (TCL) has delivered higher speed internet to Tonga. The cable station termination point is located in Sopu, Nuku’alofa. The submarine cable links Tonga to Fiji and then on to Sydney via the South Cross Cable Network.
If yes, are they privately or government owned?	TCC is a government owned enterprise. Digicel Tonga is privately owned. WanTok is privately owned.    In October 2015, the Tongan government passed the new Communications Bill 2015 (Communications Act 2015 and the Communications Commission Act 2015) which gave increased powers to the government in regard to controlling internet access.
Dial-up only?	No. Higher speed connections are available.
Approximate Rates (local currency and USD - $)	Dial-up	Varies
	Broadband	Varies
Max Leasable ‘Dedicated’ Bandwidth	Dedicated links can be purchased from Digicel, TCC and WanTok.

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 

There are three mobile network operators – TCC (U-Call), Digicel Tonga and WanTok. The mobile network operators offer GSM and 3G services, including mobile broadband. The Digicel network has coverage across Tonga except to the northern group of islands, called Nuias. The UCall (TCC) network covers all of Tonga including the northern group of islands such as Niuafo‘ou, Niuatoputapu, Nomuka and Ha‘afeva. For other information on MNOs 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)
TCC (UCall)	N/A	The UCall nework covers all of Tonga including the northern group of islands such as Niuafo‘ou, Niuatoputapu, Nomuka and Ha‘afeva.	No information	Voice, data, SMS
Digicel Tonga	N/A	The Digicel network has coverage across Tonga except to the northern group of islands, called Niuas.	No information	Voice, data, SMS.   Digicel Mobile Money.
WanTok	N/A	The WanTok network has coverage across Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vava’u only.	No information	Voice, data, SMS, WanTok Mobile money