The Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR), and also on behalf of the Government, recognizes TVL’s recent accomplishment in connecting its new site at Loh Island and extending TVL services to provide new access to information and communications technology (ICT) to the Torres islands. The Loh site was chosen as part of the Government’s Universal Access Policy (UAP) sites to ensure service reaches areas that have no access to adequate telecommunications services. This achievement provides the people of Torres with communication access to Vanuatu citizens and the rest of the world, as well as providing access to social and economic activities. Building a network in such a remote and isolated place like Loh comes with great challenges given the logistics involved, remoteness, physical topology and cost associated with it. Despite these challenges, the network has finally been built and is now operational.

TRR wishes to acknowledge TVL, its management and staff, for their commitment to this significant milestone. TRR also acknowledges the collaborative working relationship established between TVL, the Government, Torba provincial authorities, the Chiefs and the community of Loh, who have contributed significantly. TRR urges the rural community at Loh, and other similar communities around Vanuatu, to appreciate and respect the telecommunications infrastructure in their community, and urges them to work closely with the service provider (either TVL, Digicel, Telsat, etc) that is providing this valuable service, to address any issues they may have and, particularly, not damage such an investment.

This new TVL site will contribute towards the achievement of the Government’s 98% population coverage target required by the Universal Access Policy (UAP).

TRR looks forward to TVL’s continued commitment as a ‘Player’, as well as other ‘Players’ and ‘Payers’ towards implementation of the Government’s UAP.

TRR also wishes to thank Digicel and all other service providers for their continuous support in delivering services to our rural communities in and around Vanuatu. As part of the UAP, service providers, in the coming years will construct networks in areas around Vanuatu that currently do not have, or do not have adequate access to telecommunications services including voice, narrow band and broadband services. That will be an excellent outcome for those communities who currently are disadvantaged.

A 2nd UAP Implementation Update Report can be viewed from the TRR website at the following link:

http://www.trr.vu/index.php/en/telecom-industry/universal-access/report