From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.

The thrust by Tonga’s two telecommunications companies, the Tonga Communications Corporation to introduce a new cell phone service, and by Tonfön to introduce a wireless telecommunications system, this year met a number of setbacks, which meant that both companies were unable to meet their July deadlines.

Their setbacks came amid a worldwide drop in the sales of telecommunications products, which resulted in losses and eventual lay-off of workers from some of the world’s giant telecommunications manufacturers, companies such as Toshiba, Cisco and others. If that was not enough trouble, the attack on New York on September 11 further excerbated the problem in the market. It caused delays in the movement of the experts, the equipment and the capital for the Tongan projects.

The TCC new cell phone service, U-Call Mobile, however, was launched before Christmas, while Tonfön has postponed the launching of its operation until early next year.

No cable

Soane Ramanlal of Tonfön said that the whole Tonfön operation had been re-designed and re-scheduled.

He said that the plan for the laying of fibre optic cable to offer a fast and a far superior service for the central Nuku‘alofa business area will be replaced with “a Terrestial Broadcasting wireless system. This is the next generation from fibre optics, which is cheaper, it will be available for more people and it will not face the problem of being blown down if there is a hurricane.”

Soane said that it was the desire of the Crown Prince Tupouto‘a to broaden the service to cover a wider area instead of just the Nuku‘alofa business district.

The re-designed system will also increase the number of entertainment television channels from one to five. Soane said there will be channels dedicated to movies, health, education, public announcements and for religious groups.

Soane said that work to establish antennas in various parts of Tongatapu was to start in November, then in Ha‘apai and Vava‘u a month later, “then the whole system should be in operation by March”.

Meanwhile, the TCC have set the launching date for their new cell phone to be before Christmas. Timote Katoanga said that work was progressing as scheduled. A new switchboard was being established at the station and Pace Stations were being constructed at the Sia-ko-Veiongo, Masilamea, Mu‘a on Tongatapu, and at Neiafu, Vava‘u.