New Caledonia Communications - 2021

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 82,111

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28.67 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 275,002

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.02 (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment:

New Caledonia has a well-developed telecom sector with 3G and LTE network services; one of the highest smart phone adoption rates in the region; telecommunications sector is dominated by government-owned company with a monopoly on fixed and mobile services, Internet, and broadband access; hub for submarine cables that will increase competition and capacity; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from France (2020)

(2020)

domestic: fixed-line 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Broadcast media

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast

Internet country code

.nc

Internet users

total: 231,887

percent of population: 82.01% (July 2018 est.)