Pacific Regional Connectivity Program

Abstract*

The development objective of the Regional Connectivity Project is to reduce the cost and increase the availability of international bandwidth for participating countries, and thereby facilitate the development of a wide range of Information and communication technologies (ICT) applications to support social and economic development in the Pacific region. There are three components to the project. The first component is submarine cable system. This... Show More

Development Objective

The objective of the Pacific Regional Connectivity Program is to reduce the cost and increase the availability of international bandwidth for participating countries, and thereby facilitate the development of a wide range of ICT applications to support social andeconomic development in the Pacific region. Phase 1. Tonga-Fiji Connectivity Project: The objective of the proposed Project isto improve the enabling environment for telecommunications and ICT in Tonga, including greater competition and increased access to infrastructure and services by reducing the costs of international connectivity and strengthening the telecommunications regulatory framework. Access to the capacity on this new infrastructure will be available on an open-access basis. Expected sector-specific outcomes are: (a) increased international connectivity; (b) improved enabling environment; and (c) increased access to ICT services.

Key Details

Project Details

Project ID
P113184
Status
Closed
Team Leader
Natasha Beschorner
Borrower 2
Kingdom of Tonga

Country
Tonga
Disclosure Date
May 19, 2010
Approval Date
(as of board presentation)
August 30, 2011
Effective Date
September 9, 2011

Total Project Cost 1
US$ 34.00 million
Implementing Agency
Ministry of Information and Communications,Tonga Cable Ltd
Region
East Asia and Pacific
Fiscal Year 3
2012

Commitment Amount
US$ 27.40 million
Environmental Category
B
Last Update Date
September 19, 2022
Closing Date
July 23, 2018

Last Stage Reached
BANK APPROVED

Notes
1. Total project cost includes funding from World Bank and non-bank sources in US$ millions. Active and Closed projects show current commitments. Proposed (pipeline) and dropped projects show the forecast amount. The commitment amount for projects in the pipeline is indicative and may be modified during the project preparation.
2. Borrower refers to the Borrower of a Loan or Recipient of a Grant.
3. ”Fiscal Year” is the fiscal year in which the project was approved (or dropped if the status is dropped). The World Bank's fiscal year is from July 1 - June 30. For example, a fiscal year of 1996 corresponds to July 1, 1995 - June 30, 1996.

Sectors

Themes

FY17 - Private Sector Development

FY17 - Business Enabling Environment4%
- FY17 - Regulation and Competition Policy4%
FY17 - Jobs16%
- FY17 - Job Creation16%
FY17 - Public Private Partnerships10%

FY17 - Urban and Rural Development

FY17 - Rural Development64%
- FY17 - Rural Infrastructure and service delivery64%
FY17 - Urban Development16%
- FY17 - Urban Infrastructure and Service Delivery16%

Project Map

Interactive Map

Finances

Financing Plan (US$ Millions)

Financier	Commitments
Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility Trust Fund	0.50
Asian Development Bank	9.70
IDA Grant	17.20
Borrower/Recipient	6.60

Total Project Financing (US$ Millions)

Product Line	IBRD/IDA
IBRD Commitment	N/A
IDA Commitment	17.20
IBRD + IDA Commitment	17.20

Lending Instrument
Grant Amount	10.20
Total Project Cost**	34.00

Summary Status of World Bank Financing (US$ Millions) as of March 31, 2025

No data available.

Detailed Financial Activity as of March 31, 2025

Download:

Period	Financier	Transaction Type	Amount (US$)
Aug 30, 2011	IDA-H7310	Loan Commitment	17,200,000.00
Sep 23, 2013	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	655,584.30
Nov 12, 2019	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	-50,470.29
Nov 16, 2017	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	1,251,940.60
Feb 5, 2018	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	122,315.39
Jan 19, 2018	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	370,847.30
Jan 19, 2018	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	238,405.66
Jul 12, 2018	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	19,956.98
Jun 15, 2017	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	98,340.01
Jul 10, 2017	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	70,020.00
Aug 25, 2017	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	143,151.03
Sep 26, 2016	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	140,040.00
Aug 22, 2016	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	44,884.40
Apr 6, 2016	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	26,008.09
Oct 22, 2015	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	64,596.32
Jun 5, 2014	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	248,142.95
Feb 23, 2015	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	48,385.30
Dec 17, 2014	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	132,390.95
Aug 12, 2013	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	2,393,689.50
Feb 26, 2014	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	135,657.70
Aug 8, 2013	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	188,257.22
Oct 18, 2013	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	34,293.00
Sep 5, 2013	IDA-H7310	Loan Disb	748,592.44
Nov 12, 2019	IDA-H7310	Loan Cancel	110,128.67

Footnotes

Ratings

IMPLEMENTATION RATINGS

Name	Review	Date
Procurement	Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Monitoring and Evaluation	Moderately Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Overall Safeguards Rating	Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Progress towards achievement of PDO	Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Project Management	Moderately Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Overall Implementation Progress (IP)	Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Counterpart Funding	Satisfactory	2017-12-07
Financial Management	Moderately Satisfactory	2017-12-07

COMPLETION RATINGS

INDICATOR	IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION & RESULTS REPORT: 03-28-2019
Outcomes	Substantial
Risk to Development Outcome
Bank Performance	Substantial
Borrower Performance
Government Performance
Implementing Agency

INDEPENDENT EVALUATION RATINGS

INDICATOR	ICR REVIEW: 06-14-2019	PROJECT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORT:
Outcome Rating	Satisfactory	N/a
Risk To Development Outcome		N/a
Bank Performance	Satisfactory	N/a
Borrower Performance		N/a
Government Performance	Not Rated	N/a
Implementing Agency		N/a
Icr Quality	Substantial	N/a
M&e Quality	Substantial	N/a

Results Framework

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE INDICATORS

INDICATOR		BASELINE	CURRENT	TARGET

Increased Capacity of MEIDECC to deliver on its mandates Value 1.00 5.00 5.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Increased Level of Competition in the ICT sector (number of service providers) Value 2.00 6.00 6.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Access to Internet Services (per 100 people) Value 1.00 40.00 50.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Access to telephone services, mobile phone (per 100 people) Value 59.00 100.00 101.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
International Internet Bandwidth (Mbps) Value 37.00 850.00 4400.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment

INTERMEDIATE RESULTS INDICATORS

INDICATOR		BASELINE	CURRENT	TARGET

Component 1: Length of fiber optic network built (km) Value 0.00 1217.00 1217.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Component 1: Direct project beneficiaries (number of people) Value 1000.00 55000.00 101000.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Component 2: Price of Wholesale International Capacity Link (US$/Mbps/Month) for 1 STM-1 (155 Mbps) capacity Value 495.00 150.00 155.00
Date May 5, 2016 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Component 2: Volume of International Traffic (Mbps) Value 30.00 750.00 1300.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Component 2: Average per minute cost of international call (in US$) Value 0.35 0.15 0.13
Date July 29, 2011 August 23, 2016 November 1, 2017
Comment
Component 2: Retail price of Internet Services (US$/GB/Month) Value 75.00 5.00 3.00
Date July 29, 2011 July 23, 2018 November 1, 2017
Comment
Component 2: TCL restructuring completed Value No Yes Yes
Date July 11, 2016 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment
Component 2: Implementation of open access and wholesale price regulation Value No Yes Yes
Date July 11, 2016 July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018
Comment

Increased Capacity of MEIDECC to deliver on its mandates	Value	1.00	5.00	5.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Increased Level of Competition in the ICT sector (number of service providers)	Value	2.00	6.00	6.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Access to telephone services, mobile phone (per 100 people)	Value	59.00	100.00	101.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

International Internet Bandwidth (Mbps)	Value	37.00	850.00	4400.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Component 1: Length of fiber optic network built (km)	Value	0.00	1217.00	1217.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Component 1: Direct project beneficiaries (number of people)	Value	1000.00	55000.00	101000.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Component 2: Price of Wholesale International Capacity Link (US$/Mbps/Month) for 1 STM-1 (155 Mbps) capacity	Value	495.00	150.00	155.00
	Date	May 5, 2016	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Component 2: Volume of International Traffic (Mbps)	Value	30.00	750.00	1300.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	July 23, 2018
	Comment

Component 2: Average per minute cost of international call (in US$)	Value	0.35	0.15	0.13
	Date	July 29, 2011	August 23, 2016	November 1, 2017
	Comment

Component 2: Retail price of Internet Services (US$/GB/Month)	Value	75.00	5.00	3.00
	Date	July 29, 2011	July 23, 2018	November 1, 2017
	Comment