Digicel Samoa has celebrated 20 years of operations, with Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt acknowledging the telecommunications company’s contribution to Samoa’s development and emphasising the importance of continued investment, innovation and digital inclusion.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration held at the Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday, 14 October, the Prime Minister reflected on two decades of changes in the country’s telecommunications sector and the role of private investment in expanding access to communication services.
The event brought together Cabinet ministers, diplomatic representatives, business leaders, industry partners, employees and customers to recognise a company that has become a significant part of Samoa’s telecommunications landscape.
“Twenty years ago, Samoa made a conscious decision to embrace greater competition, innovation, and investment within the telecommunications sector,” the Prime Minister said.
He noted that this decision had helped transform how Samoans communicate, conduct business, access information and maintain connections with families and communities both locally and overseas.
Two decades of telecommunications development
Digicel began operations in Samoa in October 2006, at a time when the government was implementing reforms designed to liberalise the telecommunications sector, encourage competition and extend services to rural communities.
According to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s 2006–2007 annual report, Digicel entered the market following the acquisition of Telecom New Zealand’s 90 per cent shareholding in Telecom Samoa Cellular for SAT$26.6 million. The transaction gave the company an initial customer base of approximately 33,000 subscribers.
The same report recorded the establishment of Samoa’s Office of the Regulator in July 2006, an important development in creating an independent regulatory framework for the expanding telecommunications market.
These reforms formed part of a broader effort to improve the availability and affordability of communication services, particularly for communities outside the main urban centres.
The sector has since undergone significant technological and commercial changes, from the earlier generations of mobile telephone services to modern broadband, fibre connectivity and 4G and 5G mobile networks.
Digicel’s ownership also changed in July 2022 when Australian telecommunications company Telstra completed its acquisition of Digicel Pacific, supported by financing from the Australian Government. The transaction included operations in Samoa and five other Pacific countries.
Continued investment in Samoa’s network
The anniversary comes during a period of further telecommunications infrastructure development across Samoa, particularly in Savai’i.
In September 2026, Digicel Samoa announced the launch of a new mobile telecommunications tower in Asau, intended to improve network coverage and reliability for communities in western Savai’i.
The company reported that it had invested WST$22 million in telecommunications infrastructure over the preceding 18 months, including additional 4G and 5G installations across Upolu and Savai’i.
Earlier in May, Digicel announced the completion of two additional towers at Samalaeulu and Falelima, which it said would improve mobile and data coverage for more than 3,000 residents.
Digicel Samoa Chief Executive Officer Karl Vizvary has described the company’s network expansion as part of its commitment to supporting communities, businesses and access to digital opportunities.
In his anniversary address, the Prime Minister acknowledged the company’s investment in infrastructure, technology and personnel, while recognising the contribution of employees, business partners and customers to its development.
He also thanked those customers who had supported the company since its early years, identifying himself as one of them.
“Today, connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is an essential service that supports education, healthcare, commerce, emergency response, government services, and social inclusion,” he said.
Samoa’s next phase of digital development
While recognising Digicel’s anniversary, the Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the future of telecommunications and the government’s broader digital development objectives.
He identified digital transformation, financial inclusion, electronic government services, education, cybersecurity and opportunities for young people as important areas that would increasingly shape Samoa’s development.
“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by faster networks, but by how technology can improve lives,” he said.
These priorities align with Samoa’s National ICT Policy 2025/26–2030/31 and National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025/26–2030/31, officially launched in April 2026.
The frameworks address the development of digital public infrastructure, government services, digital identity, electronic payment systems, cybersecurity protection and wider public participation in the digital economy.
Efforts to improve internet access in rural communities are also continuing.
On 9 October, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched its Last Mile Connectivity Project in Savai’i, providing improved internet connections to four primary schools at Faga, Siufaga, Safotulafai and Salelavalu.
The initiative is expected to benefit more than 1,000 students and 30 teachers, illustrating the increasing importance of internet connectivity in educational development.
Such initiatives demonstrate that the country’s digital transformation extends beyond telecommunications companies alone and involves government agencies, regulators, educational institutions and international development partners.
A shared responsibility for Samoa’s digital future
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Samoa Telecommunications Authority, the Office of the Regulator and other industry stakeholders in supporting the sector’s development.
He emphasised the importance of balancing private investment and technological innovation with consumer protection and long-term sustainability.
The government, he said, remains committed to encouraging investment and supporting innovation while ensuring that Samoans can benefit from emerging opportunities in the digital economy.
He also reaffirmed the government’s willingness to work with all telecommunications providers, including Digicel Samoa.
The company’s 20th anniversary therefore represents more than an individual corporate milestone. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the wider transformation of Samoa’s communications industry and the policies, investments and partnerships that have contributed to its development.
As digital services become increasingly integrated into everyday life, the continuing challenge will be to ensure that technological progress translates into reliable, affordable and accessible services for communities throughout the country.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister congratulated Digicel Samoa on its anniversary and expressed his hope for continued partnership, innovation and service to the people of Samoa.
“May your next chapter be one of continued partnership, innovation, and service to the people of Samoa,” he said.
