MOBILE PHONE OWNERSHIP EMERGES AS ONE OF SOLOMON ISLANDS’ BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT GAINS

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Mobile phone ownership has emerged as one of the most significant improvements in household living standards in Solomon Islands in recent years, with more than three-quarters of households now owning at least one mobile phone.

This represents a major improvement compared with 2019, when fewer than half of all households owned a mobile phone, highlighting the rapid expansion of mobile technology and its growing importance in everyday life.

Findings from the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office’s 2024/25 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) show that access to mobile phones has expanded considerably across the country, making communication and access to information increasingly accessible to households.

The growth in mobile phone ownership is among the most visible achievements in household asset development since 2019, with the potential to transform how people communicate, conduct business, access financial services and connect with economic opportunities.

For many Solomon Islanders, mobile phones have become more than just communication devices. They are increasingly important tools for accessing information, maintaining family and business connections, and participating in the modern digital economy.

The survey also points to gradual improvements in other areas of household asset ownership, including water tanks, septic tanks, solar panels and selected household appliances.

These improvements reflect positive changes in household infrastructure and access to essential household facilities.

While the expansion of mobile phone ownership is particularly encouraging, the survey acknowledges that access is not yet evenly distributed. Poorer households and some provinces continue to record lower ownership levels, indicating that further efforts are needed to ensure all communities benefit from the country’s growing digital connectivity.

Nevertheless, the sharp increase in mobile phone ownership stands out as a major development achievement, demonstrating how access to technology has expanded across Solomon Islands households over the past five years.

News@sbmonline2026