Editing Telecommunications in the Cook Islands

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
[[File:Telecom Cook Islands logo.png|thumb|Logo of Telecom Cook Islands]]
Like most countries and territories in Oceania, telecommunications in the [[Cook Islands]] is limited by its isolation and low population,<ref name="Wood" /> with only one major television broadcasting station and six radio stations. However, most residents have a main line or mobile phone. Its telecommunications are mainly provided by [[Telecom Cook Islands]], who is currently working with [[O3b Networks, Ltd.]] for faster Internet connection.

In February 2015 the former owner of Telecom Cook Islands Ltd., [[Spark New Zealand]], sold its 60% interest for approximately NZD 23 million (US$17.3 million) to Teleraro Limited.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2015/02/23/telecom-cook-islands-sold-to-samoan-group/ |title=Telecom Cook Islands sold to Samoan group |access-date=2021-08-02}}</ref>

==Telephone==
{{Further|Telephone numbers in the Cook Islands}}

In July 2012, there were about 7,500 main line telephones, which covers about 98% of the country's population.<ref name="Maher">{{cite web|last=Maher|first=Jules|title=Thriving on a No-fibre Diet in the Cook Islands|url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/asp/CMS/Events/2012/pacific-bb/S5_CookIslands.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813011437/http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/asp/CMS/Events/2012/pacific-bb/S5_CookIslands.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-13 |url-status=live|work=Pacific Broadband Forum|publisher=Telecom Cook Islands|location=Fiji|date=28 July 2012|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> There were approximately 7,800 mobile phones in 2009. Telecom Cook Islands, owned by [[Spark New Zealand]],<ref name="Wood">{{cite press release|last=Wood|first=Laura|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100505005815/en|title=Research and Markets: Cook Islands – Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband – Satellite Services from O3b Consortium to Bring Faster Broadband in 2011|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=5 May 2010|location=[[Dublin]]|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> is the islands' main telephone system and offers international direct dialling, Internet, email, fax, and [[Telex]]. The individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite [[earth station]]s, microwave systems, and [[very high frequency]] and [[high frequency]] [[radiotelephone]]; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and [[fibre-optic cable]]. For international communication, they rely on the satellite earth station [[Intelsat]].<ref name="Factbook">{{CIA World Factbook|article=Cook Islands|year=2013|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

In 2003, the largest island of [[Rarotonga]] started using a [[GSM]]/[[GPRS]] [[GSM services|mobile data service]] system with [[GSM frequency bands|GSM 900]] by 2013 3G UMTS 900 was introduce covering 98% of Rarotonga with HSPA+. In March 2017 4G+ launch in Rarotonga with LTE700 (B28A) and LTE1800 (B3).<ref name="Wood" /><ref name="IslandsBusiness">{{cite news|title=Access to basic Telco services remains expensive in South Pacific|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=7518/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl|newspaper=[[Islands Business]]|date=15 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070122165814/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=7518/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl |archive-date=22 January 2007|access-date=4 December 2013}}</ref>

Mobile service covers [[Aitutaki]] [[GSM]]/[[GPRS]] [[GSM services|mobile data service]] system in [[GSM frequency bands|GSM 900]] from 2006 to 2013 while in 2014 3G UMTS 900 was introduce with HSPA+ stand system. In March 2017 4G+ also launch in Aitutaki with LTE700 (B28A).
The rest of the Outer Islands (Pa Enua) mobile was well establish in 2007 with mobile coverage at [[GSM frequency bands|GSM 900]] from Mangaia 3 villages (Oneroa, Ivirua, Tamarua), Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston in the Southern Group (Pa Enua Tonga) and the Northern Group (Pa Enua Tokerau) Nassau, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Manihiki 2 Village (Tukao, Tauhunu) and Penrhyn 2 villages (Omoka Tetautua).<ref name="Wood" /><ref name="IslandsBusiness"/>

The Cook Islands uses the [[country calling code]] [[+682]].<ref name="ITU">{{cite web|title=List of ITU-T Recommendation E.164 assigned country codes|url=http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164D-11-2011-PDF-E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103225249/http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164D-11-2011-PDF-E.pdf |archive-date=2012-01-03 |url-status=live|publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]]|page=6|date=1 November 2011|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
There are six radio stations in the Cook Islands, with one reaching all islands.<ref name="Factbook" /> {{As of|1997}} there were 14,000 radios.<ref name="Factbook2002">{{CIA World Factbook|article=Cook Islands|year=2001|access-date=4 December 2013}}</ref>

[[Cook Islands Television]] broadcasts from Rarotonga, providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs.<ref name="Factbook" /> {{as of|1997}} there were 4,000 television sets.<ref name="Factbook2002" />

==Internet infrastructure and connectivity==
=== History ===
The internet was first setup in the Cook Islands in 1995 by Casinos of the South Pacific (also the first iGaming license in the country). Donald Wright and his nephew Darren Wright set up a 256K connection in Telecom Cook Islands facilities, connected to Telecom New Zealand. The Cook Islands are one of the birthplaces of the iGaming industry.

There were 6,000 Internet users in 2009 and 3,562 [[Internet host]]s as of 2012.<ref name="Factbook" /> The [[country code top-level domain]] for the Cook Islands is [[.ck]].<ref name="IANA">{{cite web|title=Delegation Record for .CK|url=https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ck.html|publisher=[[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]]|access-date=2 December 2013}}</ref>

In June 2010, Telecom Cook Islands partnered with [[O3b Networks, Ltd.]] to provide faster Internet connection to the Cook Islands.<ref name="BloombergPR">{{cite press release|last=Meltzer|first=Herald|title=O3b Networks and Telecom Cook Islands Sign Long Term Agreement|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aJh8fl9L9E5I|date=15 June 2010|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="ReutersPR">{{cite press release|last1=Maher|first1=Jules|last2=Warker|first2=Vicky|title=Telecom Cook Islands teams with O3b Networks to accelerate Satellite Broadband to the Nation's Southern Group Islands|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/idUS176052+05-Nov-2012+BW20121105|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131204020834/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/idUS176052+05-Nov-2012+BW20121105|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2013|date=12 November 2012|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> On 25 June 2013 the [[O3b MEO|O3b]] [[satellite constellation]] was launched from an [[Arianespace]]<ref name="CTO">{{cite web|title=CTO ITC Sector Member O3b successfully launches its first satellite|url=http://www.cto.int/news/cto-ict-sector-member-o3b-successfully-launches-its-first-satellite/|publisher=[[Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation]]|date=28 June 2013|access-date=4 December 2013}}</ref> [[Soyuz-2 (rocket)|Soyuz ST-B]] rocket in [[French Guiana]]. The [[medium Earth orbit]] satellite orbits at {{convert|8062|km}}<ref name="SES">{{cite web |date=1 August 2013 |title=O3b is helping millions get closer |url=http://www.ses.com/15716204/O3b-is-helping-millions-get-closer |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=[[SES (company)|SES]]}}</ref> and uses the [[Ka band|K<sub>a</sub> band]]. It has a [[latency (engineering)|latency]] of about 100 milliseconds because it is much closer to Earth than standard [[geostationary satellite]]s, whose latencies can be over 600 milliseconds. Although the initial launch consisted of 4 satellites, as many as 20 may be launched eventually to serve various areas with little or no optical fibre service, the first of which is the Cook Islands.<ref name="Amos">{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|title=Lift-off for O3b satellite network|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23028083|access-date=3 December 2013|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=25 June 2013}}</ref>

In December 2015, [[Alcatel-Lucent]] and Bluesky Pacific Group announced that they would build the Moana Cable system connecting New Zealand to Hawaii with a single fibre pair branching off to the Cook Islands. The Moana Cable is expected to be completed in 2018.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151208150545/https://www.alcatel-lucent.com/press/2015/alcatel-lucent-and-bluesky-pacific-group-launch-new-submarine-cable-system-enhance-connectivity Alcatel-Lucent and Bluesky Pacific Group launch new submarine cable system to enhance connectivity across Pacific], [[Alcatel-Lucent]], 2 December 2015</ref>

== Digital transformation ==
=== The challenges ===
As a small island digital state (SIDS) the Cook Islands faces a unique set of challenges in digital transformation. One being that they are heavily reliant on international support and cooperation to develop and fund its ICT improvement projects.

==== Supplier monopoly, connectivity, physical infrastructure and access ====
Until 2019,Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) was the sole provider for internet, mobile and fixed telephone communications for the country. Internet was provided via satellite which was costly to the government with an unreliable connection especially to the outer islands. The passing of the Competition and Regulatory Authority (CRA)  Act [https://lpr.adb.org/resource/competition-and-regulatory-authority-act-2019-cook-islands 2019] and the Telecommunications Act [https://cook-islands.tradeportal.org/Regulations/Details?lawId=162&l=en 2019]  provided the opportunity for new competitors to join the market. It also provides for subsidising the provision of telecommunications to areas or customer groups which cannot reasonably be served on a commercial basis.

==== Funding ====
The passing of the CRA and Telecommunications acts, paved the way for the Cook Islands Government to establish the state owned enterprise, Avaroa Cable Limited [https://www.avaroacable.com/ (ACL)]. This was made possible through the funding from [[New Zealand Agency for International Development|New Zealand Aid Programme]] and the [[Asian Development Bank]].

A member of the United Nations (UN) the Cook Islands is influenced by convention initiatives like the UN's [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDG's). By using digital transformation as a platform to achieve this the Cook Islands is able to access international funding to support its digital transformation initiatives.

==== Knowledge ====
During research and development phases, the Cook Islands was able to tap into the knowledge and expertise through the United Nations Development Programme ([[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]]) including their digital readiness assessment tool and then subsequently their [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-11/%5Bconcept%20note%5D%20digital%20transformation%20framework.pdf digital transformation framework.]

=== Digital transformation initiatives ===
==== Manatua One Polynesia Fibre Cable ====
{{See also|Manatua One Polynesia Fibre Cable}}
In July 2020 the Cook Islands were connected to the Manatua One Polynesia Fibre Cable, which links the Cook Islands, [[Niue]], [[Samoa]] and [[Tahiti]].<ref>{{cite web |date=25 July 2020 |title=Manatua cable poised to link much of Polynesia |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/421990/manatua-cable-poised-to-link-much-of-polynesia |access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[RNZ]]}}</ref> The cable has landing points at [[Rarotonga]] and [[Aitutaki]].<ref name="rnz">{{cite web |date=7 August 2019 |title=Polynesia submarine cable on track |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/396174/polynesian-submarine-cable-on-track |access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=[[RNZ]]}}</ref> Then in September 2020 Avaroa Cable Limited and Vodafone Cook Islands signed a partnership for use of the Manatua One Polynesia Fibre Cable, making Avaroa Cable Limited the first company to be awarded a telecommunications licence under the new Cook Islands Competition and Regulatory Authority Act 2019.

==== [https://www.aiscorp.co.nz/news/cook-island-government-press-release Upgrade to the National ITC Network] ====
In December 2021, the contract was awarded to Wellington-based IT company [https://www.aiscorp.co.nz/ Aiscorp] for the upgrade of the Cook Islands government network infrastructure. This project is ongoing and has lasting impact, benefits for the government, and the people of the Cook Island as they work towards the centralised system being available to all of government. Individual Government agencies and state-owned enterprises are continuing with development and implementation of digital plans

==== [https://www.pmoffice.gov.ck/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/National-ICT-Policy-2023.pdf National ICT policy 2023-27] ====
With facilitation support from the Asian Development Bank the latest version of the Cook Islands National ICT policy was launched.

==== [https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/pressroom/nz/b/nz-news/posts/lexisnexis-and-cook-islands-government-promote-digital-access-to-cook-islands-legislation?srsltid=AfmBOooY4oUk7dBa66tb6-F3-RMz4uUv3KCKmiCfYeKBRaFfrWvpBT4z Digital access to Cook Islands Legislation] ====
From 24 June 2024, in a partnership with LexisNexis a global leader in legal publishing, the Cook Islands government have launched a new website. [https://cookislandslaws.gov.ck/#/ Laws Of The Cook Islands - Te Au Ture O Te Kuki Airani] with features including a comprehensive legal database, user-friendly interface and regular updates. With the aim of increasing transparency

==== [https://www.undp.org/samoa/stories/cook-islands-digital-journey-boosted-launch-first-national-digital-strategy National strategy Launch] ====
After years of research, analysis, development and financial support from international bodies such as the United Nations (UN), New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) as contributors, the Cook Islands celebrated a key milestone in its digital transformation journey in February 2024, with the launch of its first ever [https://www.pmoffice.gov.ck/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CI-National-Digital-Strategy-v10.pdf National Digital Strategy 2024 to 2030].'

The vision for the Cook Islands is 'A digitally empowered and inclusive Cook Islands, where technology enhances all lives, fosters innovation, drives economic growth and prosperity, improves social services, and protects our unique culture and environment – while building a shared identity for our island home.’

==== [https://www.pmoffice.gov.ck/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Cook-Islands-Cyber-Security-Policy-2024.pdf Cyber security policy 2024] ====
With the successive rollout of the above initiatives the Cook Islands needed to ensure that set clear foundations for tackling online harm and [[cybercrime]], securing the information and data held by its government and respective agencies, ensuring the safety of its people and protection of its critical national infrastructure. This consideration has resulted in the development of its first cyber security policy.

==== [https://asypx.mfai.gov.ck/#/home Online visa and permit application system] ====
On Monday 6 January 2025, T [https://mfai.gov.ck/news-updates/mfai-launches-new-online-visa-and-permit-application-system he Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an Immigration (MFAI) announced] that the new online visa and permit application was now live. Developed in conjunction with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ([[UN Trade and Development|UNCTAD]]) this platform allows the thousands that visit each year a more efficient and effective service.

----[1] (Vodafone Cook Islands and Avaroa Cable sign Manatua Cable Deal, 2020)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://telecom.co.ck/ Telecom Cook Islands]
*[http://www.bluesky.co.ck/ Bluesky Cook Islands]

{{portal bar|Telecommunication|Oceania}}
{{Oceania topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Communications in the Cook Islands| ]]
[[Category:Telecommunications in Oceania|+Cook]]