Communication in Solomon Islands

People in Solomon Islands commonly combine several communication methods because geography, network coverage and transport differ greatly between Honiara, provinces and outer islands. Solomon Islands Pijin is widely used for spoken communication between people with different first languages. English is used for formal government and private-sector communication, while local vernacular languages remain essential in many communities. The 2019 Census recorded English communication or literacy among 72.9% of people aged five and over, Pidgin among 68.4% and a local language among 64.4%. The figures differed by location: Honiara recorded 87.4% for English and 81.0% for Pidgin, while Malaita recorded 61.0% and 55.8%. Local-language use was particularly high in Rennell-Bellona at 80.4% and Choiseul at 79.5%. A message to a public institution may therefore need English, Pijin, a local language or interpretation, depending on the recipient and the island. Wantok refers to a shared language or close language, kinship and community connection. It can support trust and understanding in everyday communication, but it does not replace a formal institutional process or create a uniform national etiquette code. Mobile communication is provided mainly through Our Telekom and bmobile, with internet services also available through providers such as Satsol. Users can obtain SIM cards, prepaid or postpaid services, top-ups and USSD services. Our Telekom examples at the research date included data packages of $6 for 100 MB/1 T, $15 for 250 MB/3 T and $220 for 3.7 GB/28 T. Its home broadband example was $399 for 50 Mbps with unlimited use for 30 T, subject to a site survey and coverage. bmobile prepaid examples listed on-net calls at 1.45 per minute, on-net SMS at 0.50 and data at 1.00; off-net calls were 1.80 per minute, off-net SMS 1.25 and international calls 7.5 per minute. Prices, taxes, package labels and availability can change, so the provider should confirm them before payment. Internet access remains uneven. The Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company, or SISCC, is a fully government-backed wholesale network provider connected to the Coral Sea Cable System and the Solomon Islands Domestic Network, both in commercial operation since 2020. Retail access is licensed through providers including Our Telekom, bmobile and Satsol. Satellite and other outer-island solutions remain relevant where terrestrial coverage or cable access is limited. The Adamasia Cable was announced in 2025 with a completion target for 2027; it should not be treated as a live service before confirmed completion. The 2019 Census recorded mobile-phone ownership for 44.7% of people aged 12 and over, leaving 55.3% without a mobile phone. Among people with a functioning mobile phone, 40.7% reported internet use and 59.3% reported no internet use. Honiara's intraprovincial internet use was 62.2%. Social media accounted for 66.0% of reported uses, communication for 62.0%, entertainment for 51.3% and online banking for only 1.8%. Cost, charging facilities, device access, bandwidth and coverage can therefore determine whether a digital channel is usable. Postal communication remains available through the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation, or SIPC, a state-owned enterprise established under the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation Act 1996. SIPC handles inland and international postal articles, letters, messages, information, directions, packets and parcels. Documented provincial offices include Auki, Buala, Gizo, Kirakira, Lata, Munda, Tulagi and Taro. Customers can use a post office or a post office box, but island transport affects delivery. Publicly verified current tariffs and standard delivery times were not available in the research material, so SIPC should confirm the price, delivery path and expected timing for each item rather than promising a fixed delivery date. For government communication, the Communication Division of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, known as MCA, covers telecommunications and postal policy, broadcasting legislation, ICT policy and infrastructure oversight. The Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands, or TCSI, is the independent technical and economic regulator for telecommunications. It handles licensing, spectrum, coverage, quality of service and complaints. A telecommunications complaint normally begins with the service provider and can then be referred to TCSI under categories such as market, service, radio frequency, service-provider or anti-competition matters. The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Government Communication Unit handles strategic government information, communication and media liaison. SIG ICT Services supports central government ICT systems and is not a general public helpdesk. Written parliamentary material is in English, while parliamentary debate may use English or Pijin. A complaint about a ministry or agency should first be raised directly with that agency. The Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body that can review administrative problems after a direct agency attempt, and its service is free. Accessible communication is developing unevenly across institutions. Solomon Islands ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2023. Solomon Islands Disability Advocacy Association, Disability People Solomon Islands and Blind and Visually Impaired Association support disability-related communication access. Solomon Islands Sign Language, or SISL, provides a functional alternative for some deaf people, and SIDA trained 40 frontline health workers in July 2026. The Education Act and Regulations recognize local vernacular languages, Pijin, English and sign language as communication media. Evidence does not establish a nationwide interpreter entitlement, one uniform public-sector accessibility standard, or fixed fees and response times for accessible communication. The responsible institution should therefore be asked directly about sign-language support, accessible documents, interpretation and any associated cost. Communication disputes follow different processes. MTGPEA receives requests from families, communities and government ministries. An Eminent Persons Group made up of church and community leaders, together with trained peacebuilding officers in provincial offices, can support mediation. COMPASS and other community peacebuilding activities also provide practical options. Customary leaders and churches may help resolve interpersonal or community disputes, but their mediation does not have blanket legal equivalence to a court decision. Telecommunications disputes follow the provider-to-TCSI process, while maladministration can reach the Ombudsman after direct contact with the responsible agency. Immediate safety concerns or suspected crime require the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the relevant emergency channels rather than informal mediation.