Vodafone Kiribati is at the forefront of keeping one of the world’s most dispersed countries connected. The role is vital, particularly here in the Pacific where family and community are highly valued. There is a very clear vision, and under Chief Executive Officer Kamlesh Sharma, the goals commensurate to that vision are being steadily achieved, from ensuring there are no gaps in connectivity to improving infrastructure, and providing isolated communities with better digital access.
Doing this in a country stretched across 3.5 million square kilometres is no mean feat, and the positive flow-on effects are felt across the board in education, healthcare, economic development, and perhaps most important of all – financial inclusion. Every new connection made in a remote outer island has a ripple effect, strengthening not only individual livelihoods but entire communities.
Mr Sharma is clear-eyed about the vision he and his team want to accomplish. “Under my leadership, Vodafone Kiribati remains firmly committed to building a resilient, future-ready telecommunications network that connects every community across our islands,” Mr Sharma said. “Connectivity must become a powerful driver of national development, economic growth, and social inclusion.” Honing in on three key areas will be central to delivering on this promise:
- Expanding network coverage
- Improving service quality
- Accelerating digital transformation
A strong innovator with forward-looking strategies and a passion for excellence, Mr Sharma’s executive management track record, as well as a sales and marketing background, only enhance what he brings to the table as CEO. He has the experience to prove it too, with over 15 years in leadership roles across the Pacific, including Fiji, New Zealand, and Kiribati. His leadership style fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, positioning Vodafone Kiribati for long-term success in a competitive market.
Key Priorities, Investments and Growth
To achieve Mr Sharma and the team at Vodafone Kiribati’s vision of a digitally connected country, where national progress and opportunity is accelerated and expanded by high-quality telecommunications infrastructure, Vodafone Kiribati has prioritised investment in key areas. Currently, 87% of the population has network coverage. The commitment is to achieve 95% within the next 18 months. Part of this picture is the development of new network sites in the Outer Islands and South Tarawa, enabling greater access to 4G+ services to areas which have, in the past, typically had limited access. This expansion represents not just an engineering challenge but a profound commitment to equity and inclusion across every inhabited atoll.
A further success story in terms of connectivity was the cooperation with BNL’s Starlink Community Gateway that uses Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO) to improve network performance and cut down on latency, ultimately resulting in customers having a better experience across the country. This satellite-based solution, introduced in December 2025, has significantly enhanced network performance and reduced latency across the islands, bringing high-speed connectivity to regions previously dependent on slow, unreliable links.
The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) fibre optic network, now operational in Tarawa this month, also represents a major step forward in Kiribati’s digital evolution. Through a partnership with BNL as a primary fibre connectivity provider, Vodafone Kiribati is delivering faster internet, expanded network capacity, and more dependable service for commercial, governmental, and consumer use. This undersea cable infrastructure dramatically reduces reliance on expensive satellite bandwidth while opening new possibilities for data-intensive applications. A cutting-edge data centre currently under construction will enhance national ICT capacity, facilitate network growth, and make Software-as-a- Service (SaaS) solutions available. This facility will provide businesses andgovernment agencies with secure hosting, better data management, and scalable digital platforms to support contemporary service delivery. Once completed, it will serve as a digital backbone for the nation’s growing economy.
Advancing Financial Inclusion
Mobile financial services are being expanded through M-PAiSA, a transformative tool for financial inclusion. Around 70% of customers have already signed up for M-PAiSA. Vodafone Kiribati is rolling out these services further across the Outer Islands, promoting financial access, economic engagement, and wider availability of secure digital payment options. This service empowers people—especially those in isolated locations—to transfer money, settle bills, and handle their finances without conventional bank infrastructure. For many residents of remote islands, M-PAiSA represents their first formal entry into the financial system.
National & Regional Contribution
Vodafone Kiribati is a crucial driver of both domestic development and Pacific regional connectivity. Through focused investments, strategic alliances, and ongoing innovation, the company is making a difference across several areas:
- Expanding Digital Education – Enhanced connectivity gives schools access to worldwide learning resources, facilitates remote education, and improves learning outcomes across the islands, especially for students and teachers in underserved areas.
- Supporting Government Digital Transformation – Dependable telecom infrastructure backs e-government efforts, streamlines inter-ministry communication, and makes public services more accessible to citizens.
- Enabling Economic Participation – By boosting network reach and service quality, Vodafone Kiribati equips local businesses with dependable connectivity, helping entrepreneurs and small enterprises use digital tools and reach wider markets.
- Strengthening Outer Island Connectivity – Better network access is closing the digital divide, helping families stay in touch, supporting small business development, and bringing essential services like health information, education, and financial tools to local communities.
Challenges & Future Outlook
Operating in Kiribati comes with distinct structural difficulties. The country’s geographic spread makes network deployment and upkeep complex and costly. High infrastructure and logistics expenses—especially for shipping equipment and constructing tower sites in the Outer Islands—combined with unreliable power supply and historically expensive satellite connectivity, have constrained bandwidth and affordability. Yet these obstacles have also forged a uniquely resilient and innovative approach to telecom operations.
Despite these hurdles, Kiribati stands on the brink of transformation. The arrival of fibre via the East Micronesia Cable, together with progress in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology like Starlink, is set to fundamentally change the digital landscape. The convergence of these technologies offers an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog legacy limitations.
