BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The national government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation has successfully built 130 mobile towers out of 161 towers they had planned to build around the country.
The project is known as the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project (SINBIP) and implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, with the support from Solomon Tower Limited (STL).
The implementation of the three years project started in 2024, with the aim to complete the construction of the 161 towers before the end of 2026.
The project designed into three phases, which covers the distribution of the provinces, currently is in it’s final stages, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Communication and Aviation Fredrick Kologeto.
“We reached the last stage of installation of towers. Now, we are at Temotu, Makira Ulawa and Rennel Bellona provinces.
“As to date, we have installed 130 towers with 57 being connected, and some of the connected towers had already reached their limit,” he highlighted.
The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the Solomon Tower Company started to receive revenue from the towers. It is not just SBD $100 or SBD $1,000; it is in millions.
He said if the 161 towers are installed and connected, it would be a revenue boost for STL, and telecommunication services in the country.
Kologeto is confident that the ministry and operators would install and connect the targeted 161 towers prior to its schedule. This is so that rural people benefit from the program.
In the meantime, he encouraged every people in Solomon Islands to make great use of the service, and not just for tiktok and other unnecessary means.
“Let’s be innovative and make money out of this infrastructure,” Kologeto emphasized.
He said his ministry will also encourage the operators to look at pricing so that people in rural areas can afford the service.
“This is to ensure they engage in businesses,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
