Transport needs within Tonga are served by roads, shipping services, and air. There are about 680 kilometers (423 miles) of roads, with 184 kilometers (114 miles) paved. These serve most areas within the main islands, with transport provided by private vehicles and bus services. Shipping among the 3 main island groups is provided by the government-owned Shipping Corporation of Polynesia and the private Uata Shipping Lines. These offer regular passenger, cargo, and car ferry services throughout the country.
Royal Tongan Airlines provides international air services from Fua'amotu Airport, the only of the country's 5 airports that has a paved runway. It also links the 3 island groups with regular domestic flights.
Parts of Tonga's telecommunications network are old. Domestic phone services link most of the country via the government-owned Tonga Telecommunications Commission, but there has been little upgrading since the 1950s. International communications via satellite are provided by Cable and Wireless Limited. Electricity is widespread and is generated completely by imported fuels. Tonga had 1 Internet service provider as of 1999.
| Communications | ||||||||
| Country | Telephones a | Telephones, Mobile/Cellular a | Radio Stations a | Radios a | TV Stations a | Televisions a | Internet Service Providers c | Internet Users c |
| Tonga | 8,000 (1996) | 302 (1996) | AM 1; FM 2; shortwave 1 (2001) | 61,000 | 1 (2001) | 2,000 | 2 | 1,000 |
| United States | 194 M | 69.209 M (1998) | AM 4,762; FM 5,542; shortwave 18 | 575 M | 1,500 | 219 M | 7,800 | 148 M |
| Philippines | 1.9 M | 1.959 M (1998) | AM 366; FM 290; shortwave 3 (1999) | 11.5 M | 31 | 3.7 M | 33 | 500,000 |
| Solomon Islands | 8,000 | 658 | AM 3; FM 0; shortwave 0 | 57,000 | 0 | 3,000 | 1 | 3,000 |
| a Data is for 1997 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
| b Data is for 1998 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
| c Data is for 2000 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
| SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online]. | ||||||||
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