A new Universal Service Obligation (USO) contract between the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) and Vodafone Fiji Limited will bring satellite‑based internet to 30 underserved communities across Kadavu, delivering connectivity to an estimated 2,332 people from 568 households through shared Wi‑Fi centres and affordable data vouchers.
The rollout, funded through the Universal Service Fund (USF), is being implemented as the latest USO delivery under TAF’s national universal service programme. Connectivity will be provided via managed satellite Wi‑Fi, with each community given access to a shared hub where residents can purchase and redeem low‑cost data vouchers. TAF described the work as a phase‑one rollout covering communities across the Naceva, Nakasaleka, Yale and Yawe tikinas of Kadavu.
TAF chair David Eyre said the signing of the Vodafone contract marked an important milestone for Kadavu and for Fiji’s broader universal service efforts. “Universal service is about fairness. If a community can’t get online, it is effectively locked out of education resources, health information, markets, and timely disaster updates,” Eyre said, adding that the partnership “uses solutions designed for remote island conditions and is focused on long‑term reliability.”
Vodafone Fiji chief executive Elenoa Biukoto said the operator’s involvement supports national connectivity targets and will provide a resilient, supported network for students and small businesses on the island. “This partnership allows Vodafone Fiji to bring dependable, managed connectivity to the people of Kadavu. By providing a resilient and supported network, we are ensuring that students and small businesses have the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world,” Biukoto said in a statement.
The agreement with Vodafone is TAF’s fourth USO delivery collaboration, following previous contracts with Digicel Fiji, Telecom Fiji Limited and Lightspeed Fiji. Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua welcomed Vodafone’s participation, saying the country’s largest telecommunications provider “significantly strengthens this national initiative.”
TAF has named the specific phase‑one sites to be connected. In Naceva tikina the communities are Dravuwalu, Jioma, Kadavu, Muanisolo, Nacomoto, Niudua, Soso, Vukavu, Vunisei and Yavitu. In Nakasaleka the rollout will reach Jiliva, Lomanikoro, Matasawalevu, Nakaugasele, Nakaunakoro, Nakoronawa, Namajiu, Nukuvou and Vacalea. Yale tikina sites include Gasele, Levuka, Naioti, Nauciwai and Rakiraki; and Yawe tikina will see connectivity in Korovou, Nalotu, Naqalotu, Natokalau, Tawava and Yakita.
The satellite‑managed, shared‑centre approach is designed to address the technical and economic challenges of connecting remote islands where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is costly or impractical. By focusing on community access points and voucher‑based prepaid data, TAF and Vodafone aim to provide affordable, reliable online access that can support education, health information flow, small enterprise activity and disaster communications for Kadavu residents.
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