Papua New Guinea has taken a major step towards next-generation mobile connectivity after the National Information and Communications Technology Authority confirmed that spectrum is available for commercial 5G services.
NICTA announced on 4 September that qualified mobile operators could seek licences covering spectrum in the internationally harmonised 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands.
The decision follows several years of legal, technical and regulatory work, including spectrum planning, market assessments, industry consultation and examination of international approaches.
NICTA Chairman Brian Riches said making the spectrum available provided operators with the regulatory certainty required to plan, invest in and deploy next-generation networks.
While 5G is commonly associated with faster mobile internet, its commercial implications extend much further.
For businesses, improved connectivity can support cloud-based applications, electronic commerce, digital payments, remote operations and data-intensive services. Faster and more reliable networks can also improve links between Papua New Guinea companies and regional and global markets.
Riches said improved connectivity could increase productivity and support greater use of cloud computing and digital services.
For consumers, 5G has the potential to improve access to education, financial services, information, entertainment and digital government services.
The development is particularly relevant in a country where geography and infrastructure constraints have historically made connectivity difficult and expensive.
Papua New Guinea’s telecommunications market has also been changing rapidly with increased competition, satellite connectivity and continuing investment in mobile networks.
The availability of 5G spectrum does not mean nationwide 5G coverage will occur immediately. Operators will need to make commercial decisions about network investment, equipment and deployment priorities. Initial services are likely to concentrate on areas where demand and infrastructure can support the investment.
NICTA said the licensing framework provides a foundation for those investment decisions.
The regulator noted that Papua New Guinea joins more than 150 countries that had launched or soft-launched 5G networks by July 2026.
For Papua New Guinea’s wider digital economy, the move represents another building block in efforts to improve connectivity, encourage technology investment and expand digitally enabled business activity.
