Editing Telecommunications in Fiji (section)

==Internet==

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.fj]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Fiji-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 
** 300,326 users, 140th in the world; 33.7% of the population, 126th in the world (2012);<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs,  U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000–2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
** 114,200 users, 157th in the world (2009).<ref name=CIAWFB-Fiji-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 13,734 subscriptions, 142nd in the world; 1.5% of the population, 133rd in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: 96,277 subscriptions, 118th in the world; 10.8% of the population, 89th in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 21,739 hosts, 115th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Fiji-Communications-2014/>
* [[List of countries by IPv4 address allocation|IPv4]]: 134,656 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 151.3 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[Internet Service Providers]]: 7 ISPs (2011)<ref name="diplomacyedu">{{cite web | url=https://www.diplomacy.edu/sites/default/files/IGCBP2010_2011_Tamanikalwalmaro.pdf | title=Cybersecurity in the Republic of Fiji | work=[[DiploFoundation]] | date=2011 | access-date=10 November 2017 | author=Tamanikaiwaimaro, Salanieta}}</ref>
The Internet is widely available and used in and around urban centers, but its availability and use are minimal or nonexistent outside these areas.

=== Labasa-Savusavu Fiber Project ===
Launched in 2023, Telecom Fiji's $4.1 million Fiber Project is designed to expand the underground [[Fiber-optic network|fiber optic network]] from [[Labasa]] to [[Savusavu]], with the aim of improving [[internet services]] in Fiji's Northern regions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Silaitoga |first=Serafina |date=2023-05-21 |title=$4.1m fibre project |url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/4-1m-fibre-project/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=The Fiji Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

The project's significance lies in its potential to address the limitations of the existing microwave link-based connectivity in [[Vanua Levu]], which is vulnerable to disruptions, particularly during [[natural disaster]]s. By reinforcing the [[communications network]] with [[fiber optic technology]], the initiative is expected to contribute to the resilience and economic development of the [[Northern Division, Fiji|Northern Division]]. This development is also anticipated to support the advancement of [[digital education]] infrastructure and broader [[economic activities]] in the region.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=fijivillage |title=Telecom Fiji launches $4 million 5-year Labasa-Savusavu Fiber Project |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/TFL-launches-4-million-5-year-Labasa-Savusavu-Fiber-Project-8rx5f4/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.fijivillage.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

The government in a parliament sitting on March 15, 2018, passed a bill known as the Online Safety Bill to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights that was tabled in the [[Parliament of Fiji]] to enforce tougher restrictions on those that may share explicit photos of individuals on social media or spread anti- government remarks as well.

Currently, there are no government restrictions on general public access to the Internet, but evidence suggests that the government monitors private [[e-mails]] of citizens as well as Internet traffic in an attempt to control antigovernment reports by anonymous bloggers.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204201 "Fiji"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 27 March 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.</ref>

The country has operated under a military-led government since 2006 and has had no constitution or functioning parliament since 2009. A series of decrees have been issued, including the Public Order Amendment Decree (POAD), the Media Decree, and the Crime Decree.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012/>

By decree all telephone and Internet service users must register their personal details with telephone and Internet providers, including their name, birth date, home address, left thumbprint, and photographic identification. The decree imposes fines of up to F$100,000 ($56,721) on providers who continue to provide services to unregistered users and up to F$10,000 ($5,672) on users who do not update their registration information as required. Vodafone, one of two mobile telephone providers, also requires users to register their nationality, postal address, employment details, and both thumbprints.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012/>

The POAD gives the government the power to detain persons on suspicion of "endangering public safety or the preservation of the peace"; defines terrorism as any act designed to advance a political, religious, or ideological cause that could "reasonably be regarded" as intended to compel a government to do or refrain from doing any act or to intimidate the public or a section thereof; and  makes religious vilification and attempts to sabotage or undermine the economy offenses punishable by a maximum F$10,000 ($5,672) fine or five years’ imprisonment. The Media Decree prohibits "irresponsible reporting" and provides for government censorship of the media. The Crimes Decree includes criticism of the government in its definition of the crime of sedition, including statements made in other countries by any person, who can be prosecuted on return to Fiji. The government uses the threat of prosecution under these provisions to intimidate government critics and limit public criticism of the government. Journalists and media organizations practice varying degrees of self-censorship, with many reportedly fearing retribution if they criticize the government.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012/>

In May 2007 it was reported that the military in Fiji had blocked access to blogs critical of the regime.<ref name='SMH-Fiji-2007'>{{cite news | title=Fiji muzzles critical blogs | date=18 May 2007 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/fiji-silences-critical-blogs/2007/05/18/1178995370872.html | work =The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date = 18 May 2007 }}</ref>

In 2012 police investigated former [[University of the South Pacific]] (USP) professor Wadan Narsey, a prominent Fijian economist and long-time critic of the military government, for alleged sedition in writings published on his personal blog.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012/>

The POAD permits military personnel to search persons and premises without a warrant from a court and to take photographs, fingerprints, and measurements of any person. Police and military officers may enter private premises to break up any meeting considered unlawful.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Fiji-2012/>