One of the most common questions I get after visiting all 14 countries in Oceania is: what’s the internet actually like? Whether you’re planning to work remotely, navigate without a data connection, or just want to know if you’ll be able to post a story from Tuvalu — this is the post for you.
Most people thing it is a barren wasteland of data connectivity. Others don’t really think about it until they’re stranded in Kiribati with no access to Google Maps. The short version: it ranges from excellent to completely non-existent, and there’s very little in between.
One important note before we start: avoid regional ‘Oceania’ eSIMs. The connection across most Pacific countries (Australia and New Zealand aside) was poor, and in some countries it simply didn’t work at all. Get a local physical SIM wherever possible – below I’ll tell you where that’s actually feasible and where it isn’t.
Here’s the full ranking, best to worst. Based on my personal experience of trying to connect in every country in the pacific.
1 & 2 – Australia and New Zealand – Excellent
No surprises here. Both countries have excellent connectivity, cheap unlimited data SIMs, and fast wifi virtually everywhere. Some rural areas can be patchy – same as anywhere – but for towns and cities it’s completely reliable. Working remotely from either is straightforward. eSIMs work great, you’ll get better deals on physical SIMs though.
👉 If you want to put New Zealand connectivity to the test in some rural but very beautiful spots, check out my guide on New Zealand for non-hikers→
3 – Fiji – Excellent
Strong connectivity and very easy to sort. Skip the Fiji eSIMs (which don’t always work) and grab a local SIM at the airport instead. They’re cheap, come with a large data allowance, and the connection is significantly faster than eSIM alternatives. There’s decent wifi in most hotels and restaurants too. This is an easy place to work from.
4 – Samoa – Very good
I had low expectations for connectivity in Samoa and was genuinely surprised. The airport has a couple of SIM card stores that stay open for every arriving flight, including the 2am ones, so you can get sorted immediately on arrival. Reasonable price, large data allowance, and decent connection across the island. Patchy in more remote areas, with a few 3G, loading-circle-of-doom moments if you’re driving around. But that’s to be expected. Wifi is good in hotels, though not common in restaurants or cafes. A solid base for remote working.
👉 Full guide to visiting Samoa →
5 – Papua New Guinea – Very good (in the cities)
I made the mistake of buying an expensive 1GB eSIM before landing in PNG, assuming it would be hard to get a local SIM. It wasn’t. Two stores in the airport sell SIMs at reasonable prices, with strong connection even in more remote areas – they worked in Mount Hagen and rural mountain areas, though signal could get less reliable in very remote spots. The eSIM worked but wasn’t as reliable – though was great for being instantly connected before getting through immigration. Wifi availability is limited outside of better hotels in Port Moresby. Fine for working from the main cities.
🔗 Airalo – PNG eSIM as backup option
👉 Full guide to PNG tribal festivals →
6 – Vanuatu – Good in Port Vila, poor elsewhere
I got an eSIM pre-arrival out of caution (landing on a weekend), but a store in the airport sold 5GB SIMs for around $5 – no need to worry. The eSIM was useful when I had to look up exchange rates to get cash to then buy the actual SIM, because obviously I’d forgotten to check before landing… The SIM card catch: outside Port Vila, connection was essentially non-existent. I struggled to get any data signal while driving around Efate. Wifi in hotels was fine, not common in restaurants. Workable if you’re based in the city, not if you’re island-touring.
👉 Full guide to visiting Vanuatu →
7 – Tonga – Manageable with effort
The eSIM I used here wasn’t great – no connection outside Tongatapu, and slow within the city. Local SIMs from airport stores seemed to perform better based on what locals told me, so opt for that if you need to work. Hotel wifi was average, often slow, and not available in most restaurants or cafes. Workable, but you’ll have to try harder than anywhere above on this list.
🔗 Airalo – Tonga eSIM for emergencies
👉 Full guide to things to do in Tonga →
8 – Palau – Wifi only, SIM difficult to source
Palau’s ranking is saved entirely by its hotel and restaurant wifi, which is generally decent, though it slows when multiple people are using it. Getting a SIM is a different story: there was no eSIM available for Palau – as of mid-2024. The situation doesn’t seem to have improved much either, and the main international providers still have no coverage here. The SIM card store at the airport had nobody working in it. I didn’t find anywhere obvious to buy one in town either. Rely on wifi only and you’ll manage. Just. But don’t expect reliability.
9 – Tuvalu – Starlink but not everywhere
No eSIM for Tuvalu. There is a SIM card store next to the airport but it wasn’t open when I arrived on a Saturday, and nothing is open on Sundays. So if you’re only here for the weekend, in terms of connectivity you’re doomed. It is rumoured that tourists can get functioning SIMs here on weekdays though… Your best option is Starlink: I stayed in an Airbnb with Starlink connectivity and paid the host an extra ~$30 USD to use it. It worked really well with strong, reliable connection. Some hotels also have wifi but not all. Treat connectivity here as a bonus rather than a given.
10 – Micronesia – Difficult
I only stopped in Chuuk, so this may be different in Pohnpei. In Chuuk: no SIM cards available at the airport, no eSIM option, and nowhere obvious selling them in town. Higher-end hotel wifi worked in lobbies and restaurants but not always in rooms, and speeds were slow. We’re talking… can’t load instagram stories slow, so video calls would be out of the question. I wouldn’t plan any remote work around Micronesia.
11 – Marshall Islands – Don’t rely on it
There’s nothing resembling a phone shop at Majuro airport (there’s barely anything at the airport full stop, though there is a dive bar and a diner, which is delightful in a different context). No eSIM option. Some restaurants have wifi, but it’s not widespread. Higher end hotels Majuro should have wifi, but recommended to check in advance. If you’re staying on a private atoll, connectivity is very unlikely to exist. Go fully offline and enjoy it. It’s liberating. You might even find yourself.
👉 Hot takes on visiting every Pacific country →
12 – Nauru – Genuinely hopeless
The eSIM I bought for Nauru didn’t work at all, which led to a lengthy battle with the provider to prove non-functionality and get a refund. As if anybody was questioning functionality of an eSIM in Nauru… No SIM store at the airport and nowhere obvious in town. Hotel wifi only worked in the lobby, not rooms. This is a one-day destination anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. Walk around the island, see what there is to see, and accept that your phone is a camera today. Do not try and work from here, seriously.
👉 Full Nauru guide – walking around a whole country in a day →
13 – Solomon Islands – The worst surprise
This was the most unexpected connectivity fail of all my Pacific adventures. Solomon Islands gets reasonable Australian tourist traffic so I assumed it would be similar to Vanuatu in terms of connectivity. It is not. The only eSIM I could find was $50 USD for 1GB, with 0 guarantees that it would work. I did not buy it. I am scarred by Nauru. No SIM store at the airport. People told me the local convenience stores would sell SIM cards, but after trying 5 different ones, it appears that is not the case… The main telecom store was closed on Sunday when I arrived, and when I went back Monday there were 30+ people queuing. I gave up.
Hotels charge separately for wifi. You buy day passes, and the connection wasn’t reliable even in one of the better hotels in Honiara. If sort of worked in the lobby, but nowhere else, and ususally stopped loading after 10 minutes. Don’t plan any work around Solomon Islands. Download some offline Netflix shows to keep yourself entertained in the evening.
👉 Full guide to visiting Solomon Islands and Honiara →
14 – Kiribati – Completely unreliable
Despite Vodafone signage absolutely everywhere in Kiribati, I could not find a SIM card in anywhere. Not in the airport, not in town, not in convenience stores, nowhere. Plenty of places wanted to sell me pay-as-you-go top-up vouchers, but not a single one knew where you originally get the pay-as-you-go SIM card from. Bizarre. Wifi exists in some hotels and cafes but requires purchasing vouchers for around $5 that cover 200MB at a time. They run out, can’t always be replenished the same day, and sometimes just don’t work when you buy them. Video calls, social media, and and reliable inbox refreshes are basically off the table. Just don’t. Enjoy the beauty of North Tarawa instead.
The honest summary
Work remotely comfortably: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, PNG (cities only)
Workable with effort: Vanuatu (Port Vila only), Tonga
Wifi only – manageable if you plan ahead: Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu
Genuinely difficult – don’t count on it: Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru
Practical tips for Pacific connectivity
Get local physical SIMs at the airport wherever possible – they’re almost always cheaper and faster than eSIMs for Pacific countries. The exceptions are countries where airport stores don’t exist or aren’t open (Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu – see above).
Avoid regional ‘Oceania’ eSIMs – they perform poorly across most Pacific nations and in some countries don’t work at all.
Country-specific eSIMs via Airalo are the better eSIM option where available. They’re not available for every Pacific country but work well for PNG, Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa as a backup (cities only).
🔗 Browse Pacific country eSIMs on Airalo →
Starlink is increasingly present in more remote Pacific nations. In 2024 it was already prevalent in Tuvalu. Worth asking your accommodation about it in advance. Expect to pay extra for access.
Download offline maps before you go – Google Maps offline mode is genuinely useful in countries where you won’t have data. Saved me several times over these pacific trips.
FAQ
Which Pacific island has the best internet? Australia and New Zealand are the best, but among the island nations specifically, Fiji and Samoa offer the most reliable connectivity with easy-to-buy local SIMs.
Can I work remotely from Pacific islands? Yes, from some of them. Fiji, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea’s main cities are the most workable. Tonga and Vanuatu are possible with effort, again in cities. The more remote island nations (Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands) are not realistic for reliable remote work.
Do eSIMs work in Pacific islands? It varies significantly by country. Avoid regional Oceania eSIMs – they perform poorly and in some countries they completely don’t work. Country-specific eSIMs via Airalo work for some nations but aren’t available for all. In many Pacific countries a local SIM from the airport is still the best option.
Is there internet in Tuvalu? Limited. Your best bet is accommodation with Starlink – ask when booking. Some hotels have wifi (Filamona Lodge does). In all instances you have to pay extra. Don’t expect mobile data.
Is there internet in Solomon Islands? It’s very difficult to arrange. No airport SIM store, no affordable/functioning eSIM, and hotel wifi is paid and unreliable. T
Is there internet in Kiribati? Technically yes – hotels and some cafes sell wifi vouchers – but it’s unreliable, expensive per MB, and often unavailable. Don’t plan any work around Kiribati.
Also worth reading:
- Hot takes on visiting every country in the Pacific →
- Pacific airlines ranked – honest guide to flying Oceania →
- Is Tuvalu worth visiting? →
- Visiting Solomon Islands: honest guide to Honiara →
- Visiting Vanuatu: Efate island guide →
- Papua New Guinea tribal festivals →
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I’ve actually used or would genuinely use myself.
