Broadband Connectivity in Pacific Island Countries
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Broadband Connectivity in Pacific Island Countries Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Working Paper Series The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the United Nations’ regional hub promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The largest regional intergovernmental platform with 53 member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as a strong regional think tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region. The Commission’s strategic focus is to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which it does by reinforcing and deepening regional cooperation and integration to advance connectivity, financial cooperation and market integration. ESCAP’s research and analysis coupled with its policy advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to governments aim to support countries’ sustainable and inclusive development ambitions. The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members. Disclaimer: This working paper of the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division provides policy-relevant analysis on regional trends and challenges in support of the development of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway and inclusive development. The views expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. This working paper has been issued without formal editing, and the designations employed and material presented do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Correspondence concerning this working paper should be addressed to the email: [email protected]. Contact: ICT and Development Section Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Building Rajadamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200, Thailand Email: [email protected] ii Acknowledgements This working paper was prepared by Siope Vakataki ‘Ofa with substantive inputs from Atsuko Okuda, Eric Roeder, Alexey Kravchenko, Jeremy Marand and Momar Mbengue of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Development Section under the guidance of Tiziana Bonapace, Director, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Puji Pujiono and Tae Hyung Kim from the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division are kindly acknowledged for their respective inputs, as well as Iosefa Maiava (Head), and Sanjesh Naidu from the ESCAP Pacific Office. The working paper was reviewed by an external peer review panel that provided useful comments on earlier drafts. We therefore acknowledge useful comments received from Kisione Finau (University of the South Pacific), Marc Lipton (Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre), Fernando Bertrand (University of Auckland), Basheerhamad Shadrach (Alliance for Affordable Internet) and David Butcher. Tarnkamon Chantarawat and Sakollerd Limkriangkrai provided administrative support and other necessary assistance for the issuance of this paper. The Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Working Papers provide policy- relevant analysis on regional trends and challenges in support of the development of the Asia- Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) and inclusive development. The views expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. The designations employed, and material presented do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The paper has been issued without formal editing. Correspondence concerning this paper should be addressed to the email: [email protected]. January 2018 Cover Design: Jonas Flake Cover Photo: Shutterstock / BlueOrange Studio, Winui (View of tropical islands and the Pacific Ocean in Palau). iii Table of Content Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iii Table of Content .............................................................................................................. iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... v Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................ vi Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 7 1. Background ................................................................................................................ 9 2. State of Broadband Connectivity ................................................................................. 15 3. Drivers of Broadband Connectivity............................................................................... 30 4. Estimating Drivers of Broadband Adoption .................................................................. 57 5. Conclusions and Policy Implications ............................................................................. 63 Annexes .......................................................................................................................... 68 iv List of Figures Figure 1: Snapshot of mobile- and fixed-broadband penetration in Pacific Island countries, 2016 ...................... 15 Figure 2: Fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants by subregion, 2000-2016 ...................................... 16 Figure 3: Fixed-broadband subscriptions in Pacific Island countries, 2016............................................................ 17 Figure 4: Fixed-broadband subscriptions, averages over two periods – 2007-2011 and 2012-2016 .................... 18 Figure 5: Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants by subregion, 2007-2016 ................................... 19 Figure 6: Mobile-broadband subscriptions in Pacific Island countries, 2016 ......................................................... 20 Figure 7: Mobile-broadband subscriptions, averages over two periods – 2009-2012 and 2013-2016 ................. 21 Figure 8: Number of submarine fibre-optic cables and 3G coverage, 2016 .......................................................... 22 Figure 9: Number of submarine fibre-optic cables and LTE/WiMaX coverage, 2016 ............................................ 23 Figure 10: Affordability and access to mobile broadband, 2016 ........................................................................... 28 Figure 11: Affordability, access and capacity of international broadband connectivity, world sample, 2016 ...... 29 Figure 12: Broadband access and electricity generation capacity of SIDS and the world, 2000-2015 .................. 30 Figure 13: Secondary education enrolments and mobile-broadband adoption, 2015 or latest available year..... 34 Figure 14: Broadband access and ICT goods imports, 2000-2015 ......................................................................... 35 Figure 15: Broadband access and tariff on ICT goods imports, 2000-2015 ............................................................ 37 Figure 16: Average annual loss in Pacific Island countries by hazard type ............................................................ 39 Figure 17: Mobile-broadband adoption and level of competition, 2016 ............................................................... 53 Figure 18: Rule of law and broadband access, 2000-2016 ..................................................................................... 54 Figure 19: Mobile-broadband adoption and use of e-government services worldwide, 2016 .............................. 56 List of Tables Table 1: ICT and socioeconomic statistics of selected Pacific Island countries ...................................................... 13 Table 2: Fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants ................................................................................ 25 Table 3: Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants ............................................................................. 25 Table 4: Broadband affordability, 2016.................................................................................................................. 27 Table 5: Trade and tariff profiles by country groups, 2000-2015 .......................................................................... 36 Table 6: Asia-Pacific countries with high exposure to natural disasters ................................................................ 40 Table 7: Fibre-optic cable disruptions in the Pacific, recent examples .................................................................. 45 Table 8: Number of cables linking the country with the rest of the world (including