Approval by CCK of ATHKL’s interconnection offer, that became the basis of an interconnection agreement which has recently enabled interconnection between ATHKL and OceanLink’s networks*. Establishment by the Government in 2017 of a new company, BwebwerikiNET Ltd (BNL), which will be responsible for looking after submarine fibre optic cables running to Tarawa and Kiritimati Islands. BNL will also be taking care of the enhancement of the Government telecommunication infrastructure on the Outer Islands. Finalising a PPP arrangement at the beginning of 2018 under which the Government now owns the telecommunication infrastructure in the Outer Islands. The winner of a current tendering process will install and operate mobile and internet facilities based on an agreement with the newly established company BNL. The Government’s provision and ownership of these assets will enable those facilities to be shared amongst the commercial operators to provide mobile and Internet services in what would otherwise be commercially non-viable locations. Commencement of the Outer Island mobile and Internet roll out activities, with Island Councils agreeing to provide land space for building of huts and fences in conjunction with the PPP tender. Signing of an agreement between BNL and Southern Cross Cable Limited in 2017 for the provision of submarine cable and Internet capacity for Kiritimati. 6. Current Status of Telecommunications in Kiribati 6.1 Bridging the digital divide through universal, secure, affordable, reliable and accessible communications 6.1.1 Mobile Subscriber Numbers and Service Availability 51,000 mobile subscribers 46 mobile per 100 population 30% population without mobile service The total number of mobile subscribers is now 51,000, which represents a penetration of 46 mobiles per 100 population. Back in 2014, the penetration was less than 11 mobiles per 100 population. Despite this dramatic increase, over 30% of the population still has no access to mobile service, so much work remains to be done in extending the coverage of the service to keep up the momentum in the ownership rate of mobile telephones. The 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile services are currently available in various parts of the country and service quality is now good. Both 2G and 3G services are now available in some of the outer islands. 4G services only cover the mainland, capital city South Tarawa at this stage, but 4G services, sometimes described as LTE, hold the potential for substantially faster Internet Kiribati National ICT Policy 2019 10