More than $4 million has been invested in Internet Niue since it was set up in 1999, with more than 90% of the island’s population now having access to the service at home and/or work.
The Niue internet service is free to customers once they have paid for a connection, and is funded by grants from the US-based IUSN.
The organisation says it is facing ever-increasing satellite connection fees as customers make more use of the growing range of services available on the internet. In its 2010 Annual Report, the foundation says the $214,738 paid in fees during 2010 was the equivalent of $147 a head for each citizen on the island.
On-island service provider RockET Systems Limited connected several more villages in 2010 with only three remaining to be connected.
The annual report shows annual operating expenditure peaked at $726,809 last year, with total spending since 1999 at nearly $4.2 million.
