🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea Internet & SIM Cards — Connectivity Guide

The internet in Papua New Guinea can be challenging, with limited availability and slow speeds, especially outside of the capital city Port Moresby.

Internet Overview

The internet in Papua New Guinea is still in the early stages of development, with a significant urban-rural divide in terms of availability and quality. While the capital city Port Moresby and other major towns have relatively better internet connectivity, the rural areas suffer from poor or no coverage at all. The average internet speed in Papua New Guinea is around 5 Mbps, which is relatively slow compared to other countries in the region. The reliability of the internet is also a concern, with frequent outages and disruptions, especially during bad weather.

The government has been working to improve the internet infrastructure in the country, with initiatives such as the construction of a new undersea cable to connect Papua New Guinea to the global internet network. However, these efforts are still in the early stages, and it may take some time before the internet quality improves significantly. In the meantime, users in Papua New Guinea have to contend with slow speeds, high costs, and limited availability. For tourists and travelers, the best option is to purchase a local SIM card or rent a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to stay connected during their stay.

Getting a SIM Card

To get a SIM card in Papua New Guinea, tourists can visit the offices of the main carriers such as Digicel, Telikom PNG, or Bmobile. They will need to provide a valid passport and proof of address, such as a hotel reservation or a letter from their accommodation provider. The cost of a tourist SIM card is around 10 USD, and it usually comes with a certain amount of data and credit. It's recommended to purchase a SIM card from a reputable carrier, as they offer better coverage and customer support. Data plans are available from around 5 USD per month for 1 GB of data, and tourists can top up their credit at various retail outlets and convenience stores.

WiFi Availability

• Hotel WiFi quality is generally good, with most hotels and resorts offering free WiFi to their guests
• Cafe WiFi culture is not very prevalent in Papua New Guinea, but some cafes and restaurants in major towns do offer free WiFi
• Coworking spaces are limited, but some are available in Port Moresby and other major towns
• Public WiFi is not widely available, but some internet cafes and libraries do offer free or paid WiFi
• Some shopping malls and department stores also offer free WiFi to their customers

For Remote Workers

• Coworking spaces such as The Office and Port Moresby Coworking Space offer reliable internet and a productive work environment
• Reliable cafe chains such as Cafe 360 and The Coffee Club offer good WiFi and a comfortable work space
• Backup internet options such as portable Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile data plans are available for remote workers
• VPNs are recommended to ensure secure and private internet access
• Some hotels and resorts also offer coworking spaces and meeting rooms for remote workers and business travelers

Tips & Warnings

• Internet censorship is not a major concern in Papua New Guinea, but some websites may be blocked due to content restrictions
• VPN use is recommended to ensure secure and private internet access
• Roaming alternatives such as local SIM cards and portable Wi-Fi hotspots are available for tourists and travelers
• eSIM options are not widely available, but some carriers do offer eSIM plans for compatible devices
• Internet outages and disruptions can occur frequently, especially during bad weather
• It's recommended to purchase a local SIM card or rent a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to stay connected during your stay in Papua New Guinea [CALLOUT] as the internet quality can be unpredictable.