In an announcement posted on social media last week, Tonga’s Minister of Public Enterprises and the board of Tonga Communications Corp (TCC) have confirmed that the telco generated a profit of TOP1.2 million (USD518,000) for the 2017/2018 financial year (i.e. the twelve months ended 30 June 2018), compared to a net loss of TOP1.9 million in FY16/17. The telco attributed the turnaround in its fortunes to board and management changes and an overhaul of its product suite. Further, the company’s top-line would have been even higher if it was not for the impact of Cyclone Gita, which struck the islands in February 2018; the storm system caused losses of around TOP1.2 million and damaged assets worth a further TOP1.7 million.
In another recent development of note, TCC – which offers mobile services via its U-Call brand – has confirmed that its LTE network has gone live in Neiafu, Tonga’s second largest town, which is situated on the island of Vava’u. The new network went live last month – almost four years after the operator switched on its first 4G cell sites, which covered the Central Business District (CBD) of Tonga’s largest town, Nuku’alofa.