Digital Poverty in PNG

John Mayers
Apr 25
2 min read

Digital poverty in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is characterized by a significant connectivity gap compared to its Asia-Pacific neighbors, driven largely by the country's difficult geography and economic monopolies.

Current Connectivity Landscape

Access vs. Usage: While internet access was introduced in 1997, true internet penetration remains at about 32% (3.3 million users). Although roughly 60% of adults have used the internet at least once, only 36% have a consistent mobile connection.
Geographic Divide: Geography is a primary barrier; 86% of the population resides in rural areas which often lack power grids and network coverage. Consequently, 70% of all internet users are concentrated in the urban centers of Port Moresby and Lae.
Demographic Disparities: There is a notable gender and age gap. For instance, only 32% of women aged 45–74 have gone online compared to 50% of men in the same bracket. Rural dwellers and lower-income households also lag significantly in device ownership.

Barriers to Progress

Market Monopoly: The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is dominated by state-owned enterprises. This lack of competition discourages private investment and leads to a "vertical squeeze" that keeps service costs high and speeds low.
Infrastructure Costs: The mountainous terrain and limited road networks make the installation and maintenance of digital infrastructure exceptionally expensive.

Government Initiatives and Solutions

The PNG government has introduced several regulatory frameworks to modernize the digital landscape:

Digital Transformation Policy (2020) & Digital Government Act (2022): Aimed at digitizing public services, improving data privacy, and fostering collaboration across agencies.
National Cybersecurity Policy & Digital ID Framework: Designed to build user confidence by securing infrastructure and streamlining online transactions to reduce fraud.
Open Source & Partnerships: Experts suggest that Open Source Software (OSS) could reduce costs for schools and entrepreneurs. Additionally, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are viewed as essential to breaking the current monopoly and reaching the national goal of connecting 70% of the population to electricity by 2030.