2 Aug 2018

Bougainville may be about to get shortwave radio back

From , 5:03 am on 2 August 2018

There are plans in Papua New Guinea to restore short wave radio services in Bougainville.

The service, run by the national broadcaster NBC, ended when Bougainville became engulfed in a civil war nearly 30 years ago.

But the regional member for Bougainville in the PNG parliament, Joe Lera, got a positive response when he suggested a beefed up service was needed to improve the dissemination of information, especially leading into the referendum on possible independence.

Mr Lera told Don Wiseman radio is vital in the rural areas because these regions do not have ready access to newspapers or television, and the current FM signal is inadequate.

Many remote communities in Pacific island countries rely on shortwave radio.

Many remote communities in Pacific island countries rely on shortwave radio. Photo: RNZI