Majuro—In the Pacific, where our small island nations like the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau are separated by hundreds of miles of ocean, effective communication is essential. Communication is the backbone of governance, economic progress, emergency response and cultural preservation.
For our nations, where distance and limited resources present constant challenges, efficient and accurate communication enables us to bridge divides, enhance resilience and build a sustainable future.
Indeed, unprecedented and consistent communication within U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands, fostered and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's regional office, likely saved hundreds of islanders' lives during the pandemic.
In the FSM, which comprises four states—Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae—governance requires clear communication across diverse linguistic and cultural regions. Each state has its own language, customs and governance systems, making national unity and efficient administration dependent on seamless communication. In our small nations, where citizens are often spread across many islands, communication channels are essential for the timely delivery of services, from healthcare to education, and for ensuring that regional needs inform national decisions.
Efficient communication also plays a key role in international relations. Our island nations rely on partnerships with countries like the United States, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China for development support, disaster relief and policy alignment. To maintain these relationships, our governments need consistent, reliable channels for diplomacy and collaboration.
For island nations with limited natural resources, tourism, fishing and agriculture serve as economic lifelines, each depending on strong communication networks.
Palau’s tourism industry, for example, attracts visitors seeking its pristine beaches and vibrant culture. Effective communication with international markets, travel agencies and tourists is essential to create a sustainable revenue stream, provide accurate travel information and ensure visitors leave with positive experiences that boost future tourism.
Similarly, the fishing industry, a major economic driver in the Marshall Islands and the FSM, requires efficient communication to manage sustainability and compliance with international regulations. Pacific island nations have formed partnerships with foreign fishing fleets, requiring robust communication to monitor adherence to marine conservation agreements and protect local resources.
The infrastructure fragility and weather patterns impacting our small island nations have made us one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, with typhoons, rising sea levels and climate challenges posing risks to our communities. Communication is critical for emergency preparedness, enabling governments to issue timely warnings, mobilize responses and coordinate aid efforts.
In the remote islands of the Marshall Islands or the FSM, where natural disasters threaten lives and infrastructure, we know that the speed and accuracy of communication can determine the effectiveness of response and successful recovery.
Yet, building and maintaining communication systems in our nations is challenging due to geographic isolation and limited funding. Initiatives to improve these systems, like installing undersea cables and satellite-based internet, are vital investments. They enable emergency alerts, connect isolated communities to essential services, and provide the infrastructure needed for economic and social stability.
Beyond practical needs, communication in our island nations is a powerful tool for preserving cultural identity. For our countries, rich traditions are passed down through storytelling, music and language.
However, the globalization and mass migration witnessed over the past two decades, due to the Compacts of Free Association with the U.S., risk diluting these practices as younger generations move to our urban centers or abroad. Today, digital tools and communication platforms allow our nations to record and share cultural knowledge, ensuring that traditions endure even as modern influences grow.
In the Marshall Islands, local broadcasters and digital platforms have been used to teach our language and share cultural stories, connecting our youth to their heritage and ensuring that our local identity remains vibrant and relevant. For our small, far-flung communities, communication is more than just a connection; it fosters cultural preservation and a strong sense of community pride and place.
While the need for robust communication infrastructure is clear, building these systems in our small island nations is difficult. Geographic remoteness and limited resources make private investment scarce, leaving nations reliant on regional and international collaborations. Unfortunately, when it comes to upgrading our essential communication systems, we can sometimes be our own worst enemies.
In the Marshall Islands, countrywide access to affordable high-speed internet remains a significant barrier, exacerbated by our government’s deadly slow response in eliminating our exclusion from the list of recognized Starlink nations.
Without official recognition, Marshallese residents face a monthly cost of $400 for Starlink’s satellite internet service—a price well beyond the reach of most RMI citizens and organizations. This is notably higher than the rates in neighboring jurisdictions like Guam, Saipan, Palau and the FSM, where Starlink typically costs much less than $100 a month due to formal recognition from Starlink.
For many in the Marshall Islands, the steep Starlink fees make it nearly impossible to access the faster and more reliable service it offers, especially in our neighboring islands. As a result, our citizens continue to rely on the National Telecom Authority, our nation’s primary internet provider.
However, NTA’s infrastructure struggles to meet growing demands for bandwidth and quality have left our residents with slower connections and less reliable service compared to what Starlink could provide at a more accessible, competitive cost.
Investing in reliable communication infrastructure is crucial to insuring our nations thrive in a globalized world while preserving our unique identities.
In the end, for those of us living on Pacific islands, communication is not just a bridge between islands; it is a bridge between the past and the future, tradition and progress, and unity and resilience.
Whatever needs to be accomplished by our governments to make our communication services more reliable and cheaper for our people must be achieved without hesitation or prolonged debate.
Jack Niedenthal is the former secretary of Health Services for the Marshall Islands, where he has lived and worked for 43 years. He is the author of “For the Good of Mankind, An Oral History of the People of Bikini,” and president of Microwave Films, which has produced six award-winning feature films in the Marshallese language. Send feedback to jackniedenthal@gmail.com
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