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Digital Divide Country Profile · Oceania

VU

Vanuatu

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

Location in the world

Vanuatu

Flag of Vanuatu

Oceania

World map showing the location of VanuatuVanuatu
🇻🇺
Population (2024)
327,777
Total area
12,189 km²
Area in square miles
4,706.2 mi²
Coastline
2,528 km
Base map adapted from Wikimedia Commons. Population: World Bank (2024); geography: CIA World Factbook.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Vanuatu in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure, Data Center / Cloud Infrastructure, Community Access / Computing Infrastructure, 4G/mobile network infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence (AI). The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

  1. Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure5
  2. Data Center / Cloud Infrastructure2
  3. Community Access / Computing Infrastructure1
  4. Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure1
  5. Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure1

Specific technologies

  1. 4G/mobile network infrastructure1
  2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)1
  3. Cloud Computing1
  4. Data Center/Centre1
  5. Fiber/Fiber Optic1

Intervention classification

  1. Infrastructure only6
  2. Neither explicitly identified6
  3. Infrastructure and Specific Technology4
  4. Specific Technology only1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

5 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 1 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

17 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

01

Universal service mobile broadband expansion

Digicel Vanuatu 5th UAP 99% Mobile Coverage Expansion

Commitment reported May 2025 · Vanuatu nationwide, including remote islands
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Status / periodCommitment reported May 2025LocationVanuatu nationwide, including remote islandsPopulationResidents in uncovered and underserved mobile areasOrganizationsDigicel Vanuatu; Government of Vanuatu / regulatorFundingNot stated in source

Extends mobile coverage under the national universal access policy to reduce geographic connectivity gaps.

Activities and approach: New and upgraded mobile sites; coverage expansion

Mobile broadband / cellular infrastructure4G/mobile network infrastructure
Developing Telecoms. (2025). Digicel Vanuatu commits to 99% mobile coverage under UAP - Developing Telecoms. https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news/18498-digicel-vanuatu-commits-to-99-mobile-coverage-under-uap.htmlOpen supporting source ↗
02

Digital governance / institutional framework

Digital Transformation Act 2025 – National Governance Framework

Enacted / implementation 2025–2026 · Vanuatu
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Status / periodEnacted / implementation 2025–2026LocationVanuatuPopulationGovernment agencies, citizens and businessesOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; Department of Communication and Digital Transformation

Creates the statutory governance structure for coordinated digital transformation and oversight across government.

Activities and approach: Digital transformation governance; steering committee; statutory coordination

03

Public-sector broadband and service continuity

Government Broadband Network – Secure All-Province Access for Government Employees

Ongoing operational mission / upgrade programme · All provinces
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Status / periodOngoing operational mission / upgrade programmeLocationAll provincesPopulationGovernment employees and citizens using public servicesOrganizationsDepartment of Communication and Digital Transformation

Ensures public agencies can access secure government connectivity across Vanuatu rather than concentrating digital government in Port Vila.

Activities and approach: Secure government broadband; WAN; access control; network modernization

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure
Workforce
04

Government broadband

Government Broadband Network Upgrade Project

2025–ongoing · All provinces
View details
Status / period2025–ongoingLocationAll provincesPopulationGovernment offices and citizens using public servicesOrganizationsDCDT; European Union

Upgrades the national Government Broadband Network and extends reliable connectivity across provinces.

Activities and approach: Government WAN/broadband

Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure
05

Government cloud infrastructure

Government Cloud Pilot Project

2025–ongoing · National
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Status / period2025–ongoingLocationNationalPopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsDCDT; Government of Australia

Adds secure cloud capability to improve continuity and availability of digital services.

Activities and approach: Sovereign/government cloud

Data Center / Cloud InfrastructureCloud Computing
06

Education digital transformation

MOET ICT in Education Policy 2025

Approved / active 2025 · Vanuatu schools
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Status / periodApproved / active 2025LocationVanuatu schoolsPopulationStudents, teachers and education administratorsOrganizationsMinistry of Education and Training

Provides the current policy framework for equitable ICT access, digital learning, resilience, online learning and inclusion in schools.

Activities and approach: School ICT; online learning; AI; data analytics; gender/disability inclusion; disaster resilience

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
EducationK–12
07

Cybersecurity / trusted digital participation

National Cybersecurity Policy and CERT/Resilience Framework

Active policy / ongoing review · Vanuatu
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Status / periodActive policy / ongoing reviewLocationVanuatuPopulationGovernment, businesses and internet usersOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; DCDT; CERT VU; National Security Council

Strengthens the security and resilience needed for expanding digital services and connectivity following major cyber incidents.

Activities and approach: Cybersecurity policy; incident response; national cyber coordination

08

Digital rights / trusted participation

National Data Protection and Privacy Policy

Active policy framework · Vanuatu
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Status / periodActive policy frameworkLocationVanuatuPopulationCitizens, businesses and users of digital servicesOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; DCDT; National Security Council

Creates privacy safeguards needed for trust in digital government, cloud and online services.

Activities and approach: Data-protection policy; privacy principles; digital-service safeguards

09

Digital transformation coordination

National Digital Transformation Steering Committee

Operational from 2025 · Whole of government
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Status / periodOperational from 2025LocationWhole of governmentPopulationCitizens and agencies dependent on coordinated digital service deliveryOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; DCDT

Coordinates major national digital infrastructure and service initiatives to reduce fragmented implementation.

Activities and approach: Interagency governance; project oversight; digital policy coordination

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure
10

Outer-island public-service connectivity

Outer-Island ICT Connectivity Pilot

Implemented · Aneityum, Aniwa, Futuna, North Tanna and South Erromango
View details
Status / periodImplementedLocationAneityum, Aniwa, Futuna, North Tanna and South ErromangoPopulation~15,000 residents / 3,500 householdsOrganizationsTPGC; UNDP; provincial government

Installs ICT infrastructure enabling IDs, police clearances, alerts and emergency coordination locally.

Activities and approach: ICT access infrastructure; digital public-service connectivity

Telecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure
11

Digital skills / sustainability

Public Internet Access Point Manager and Staff Capacity Building

Policy implementation mechanism · Public internet access point managers and staff
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Status / periodPolicy implementation mechanismLocationPublic internet access point managers and staffPopulationCommunity users dependent on shared internet facilitiesOrganizationsTRR; DCDT; TVET institutions; Vanuatu Institute of Technology

Builds local operational capacity so community internet access points remain functional and useful over time.

Activities and approach: Manager/staff training; sustainability guidance; operational support

Education
12

Shared public internet access

Public Internet Access Points Competitive Grant Programme

Policy implementation mechanism · Rural and underserved communities
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Status / periodPolicy implementation mechanismLocationRural and underserved communitiesPopulationPeople without affordable household internetOrganizationsTRR; DCDT; Department of Cooperatives and partners

Creates sustainable shared internet access points through competitive contributory grants.

Activities and approach: Public internet access points; grant funding; local management

13

School and community digital access

School ICT Facilities as Community Information, Learning and Communication Centres

Policy implementation / education-community access model · Schools and surrounding communities
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Status / periodPolicy implementation / education-community access modelLocationSchools and surrounding communitiesPopulationStudents, teachers and nearby residentsOrganizationsMinistry of Education; DCDT; TRR

Extends the value of school ICT infrastructure to surrounding communities, creating local shared-access hubs.

Activities and approach: School ICT labs; community access; shared information and learning centers

Telecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureCommunity Access / Computing Infrastructure
EducationK–12
14

International/domestic submarine cable

Tamtam Second Submarine Cable

2025–ongoing · Lifou–Vanuatu; Santo, Malekula, Efate and Tanna
View details
Status / period2025–ongoingLocationLifou–Vanuatu; Santo, Malekula, Efate and TannaPopulationResidents and businesses across major islandsOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; EIB; ADB; France; local investors

Adds redundancy and new high-speed capacity, reducing reliance on a single international route.

Activities and approach: Submarine fiber

Submarine / International Cable InfrastructureFiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureFiber/Fiber OpticSubmarine Fiber-Optic Cable
15

School connectivity and digital learning

Technology in the Classroom – Universal Access Education Programme

Operational / policy-linked implementation · Vanuatu schools
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Status / periodOperational / policy-linked implementationLocationVanuatu schoolsPopulationStudents, teachers and rural communitiesOrganizationsMinistry of Education and Training; TRR; universal-access partners

Connects education-sector universal access objectives with classroom technology and teacher-development resources.

Activities and approach: School connectivity; multimedia teaching; teacher ICT development

Institutional / School Connectivity Infrastructure
EducationK–12
16

Universal service / rural connectivity

Universal Access Policy – Rural and Underserved Telecommunications Access

Policy under active review / implementation framework · Underserved and inadequately served locations
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Status / periodPolicy under active review / implementation frameworkLocationUnderserved and inadequately served locationsPopulationResidents, schools, health facilities and marginalized communitiesOrganizationsGovernment of Vanuatu; TRR; DCDT

Provides the national policy mechanism for extending telecommunications to locations not adequately served by existing providers.

Activities and approach: Universal-access obligations; contributory grants; rural/public internet access

EducationK–12
17

Government digital infrastructure

Vanuatu Government Data Centre Project

2025–ongoing · National
View details
Status / period2025–ongoingLocationNationalPopulationCitizens and public agenciesOrganizationsDCDT; Government of Australia

Creates resilient in-country data infrastructure that supports accessible digital services.

Activities and approach: Government data centre

Data Center / Cloud InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband InfrastructureData Center/Centre

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

  1. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Vanuatu. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/vanuatu/
  2. International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
  3. World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Vanuatu. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=VU
  4. World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Vanuatu. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=VU

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