Telecommunications in Tonga explained

Telecommunications in Tonga include radio, television, telephones, and the Internet.

Telephone

See also: Telephone numbers in Tonga.

Main lines in use:14,697 (2018)^[1]

Telephones - mobile cellular:107,938 (2018)^[2]

Telephone system:

Fixed PSTN, GSM 900

Main Island has 4G mobile. ^[3]

domestic:NA
international:satellite earth station - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean))

Radio

Broadcast stations:AM 1 (2005), FM 5 (2005), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:61,000 (1997)

Television

Broadcast stations:4 (2005)

Televisions:2,000 (1997)

In April 2002 the Tongasat company started its own satellite telecommunication service when it obtained the Esiafi 1 (former private American Comstar D4) satellite (launched in 1981) that was moved to Tonga's own geostationary point.

Internet

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2005)

Country code (Top level domain): .to

Broadband internet communication is provided by the Tonga Cable System that went online in April 2018.^[4]

On 15 January 2022, following a volcanic eruption on the island of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, the Tonga Cable System was severed, leaving the country without Internet access.^[5] Using a satellite dish at the University of the South Pacific, the telecommunications company Digicel provided limited 2G coverage to the island of Tongatapu, as well as giving residents free SIM cards.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: The World Factbook. 6 January 2022.
2. Web site: The World Factbook. 6 January 2022.
3. Web site: Traveltomtom. 12 June 2023.
4. Web site: Successful completion of Tonga Domestic Cable System. 27 March 2018.
5. Web site: Alert: Internet has been severed in #Tonga. 2022-01-25. Twitter. en-GB.
6. News: 2022-01-24. How will Tonga's broken internet cable be mended?. en-GB. BBC News. 2022-01-25.
7. Web site: Duckett. Chris. Digicel reconnects Tongan users via satellite to rest of the world. 2022-01-25. ZDNet. en.