Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands, located in the Southwest Pacific with a land area of 28,896 square kilometres, is an archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands and atolls. The population of around 700,000 is dispersed across many of these islands, with just under 85% living in rural areas. This poses significant challenges for technology and telecommunications infrastructure, with many remote areas remaining unconnected. In response, the country has facilitated the establishment of the Coral Sea Cable System, an undersea fibre optic cable linking Australia and Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. This project, completed in 2020, has significantly improved internet speeds and reliability. The telecommunications sector, though still developing, is showing signs of growth with the entrance of a second mobile operator, Bmobile, challenging the monopoly of the incumbent, Our Telekom. On the renewables front, Solomon Islands has abundant renewable energy resources but the sector is still in its infancy. The government has set a target of 100% renewable energy by 2030 and is exploring options such as solar, hydro and wind power, with assistance from international partners.