The Commission as the authority responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector in Solomon Islands issues Service Licences in accordance with Part 5 of the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) and Radio Spectrum Licences in accordance with Part 7 of the Act.
Our Telekom is the delegated administrator of the .SB country code top level domain (ccTLD .SB) and works with the Commission to manage the internet top level domain. The Commission is the trustee with delegated responsibility by the Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA) to be responsible for the administration and control of ccTLD including for the policies and operation of the domain.
However, in Solomon Islands, this IANA delegated responsibility is shared between Our Telekom and the Commission who together monitor international best practice for the purposes of developing specific management policies appropriate to Solomon Islands’ stage of economic and technical development.
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View the Registry Frequently Asked Questions page for more information on Domain options
The Commission’s Regulatory Resources Unit is responsible for regulating Solomon Islands telecommunications sector through licensing. This includes regulation through the issuance of class licences to telecommunications service providers for the operation of telecommunications networks in the Solomon Islands or for the services provided on those networks and through the issuance of radio frequency spectrum licences.
Spectrum licences also grant authorisation for the use of specific radio equipment, provided such equipment comply with technical requirements and standards related to radio interference set by the Commission.
The Commission as regulator of the telecommunications sector is also responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act (2009) and the specific requirements of licences issued under the Act. The Commission is also the administrator of Solomon Islands’ country code top level domain (ccTLD) although this role is delegated to Our Telekom.
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No person or entity may provide telecommunication services in the Solomon Islands except with a service licence or exemption (from the requirement for a licence) issued by the Commission. Service licences issued by the Commission are either a class licence or an individual licence.
A service licence is a grant of rights to provide the relevant service by the Commission, but is not a bilateral contract or agreement.
The Commission prescribes general conditions that apply to all service licences (or exemptions) as well as any special conditions applicable to a certain type of licence. The Commission has the power to suspend or revoke a service licence if, among other things, the licensee breaches the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) or the licensee had falsified documents in applying for the licence in the first place or ceases to exist in law.
Class Licences
A class licence is a service licence created by an order or a direction published by the Commission setting out its terms and conditions and the qualification criteria for such a licence.
As a general rule, all telecommunications service providers operate under the Commission’s class licence. This class licence entitles service providers to offer some or all of the full range of telecommunications services.
Registration under the class licence does not authorise or entitle the holder of such a licence to use radio frequencies to offer telecommunications services. A separate application for the relevant radio frequency spectrum licence must also be obtained for the use of radio frequencies.
Individual Licences
An individual licence is issued directly by the Commission to a specific person or entity. The Commission will issue an individual licence (instead of a class licence) only if it is necessary to specify particular terms relevant to a particular licensee or the Commission considers that other reasons make an individual licence necessary.
Individual licences are only granted in special circumstances such as in the case where an exclusive right needs to be granted to a licence applicant and where it is necessary to design provisions which apply only to the operator in question.
pdf Licences to carry on telecommunications business everywhere within Solomon Islands (521 KB)
Licence Transfer
Transfer of control of an individual licensee or of the individual licence itself is permitted by the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) only with the prior approval of the Commission. Transfer of a registration for a class licence, on the other hand, is prohibited.
More on Service Licences
Holders of service licences such as a class or individual licence are required to apply for a separate radio frequency spectrum licence in order to use radio frequencies and radio equipment in the services that they provide.
Under Part 7 of the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) , the Commission has the authority to prescribe requirements for radio spectrum licences and for authorisation for the use of radio equipment (including technical requirements and standards related to radio interference) and procedures that are applicable to the use of the radio spectrum and equipment.
Spectrum licences also grant authorisation for the use of specific radio equipment, provided such equipment comply with technical requirements and standards related to radio interference set by the Commission.
The Commission issues radio frequency spectrum licences for the following services:
- Aeronautical Radio Services
- Land Mobile Services
- Maritime Radio Services
- Fixed and Terrestrial Radio Services
- Radio Broadcasting (Sound) Services
- Amateur Radio Services
- Radiodetermination (Radar) Services
- Satellite Services
- Television (Assigned) Services
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