French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands spread across a vast area of the South Pacific, roughly the size of Western Europe. Mobile coverage is concentrated on the Society Islands group, which includes Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, and Huahine.
The two main operators are Vini (operated by Onati, a subsidiary of the national government) and Pacific Mobile Telecom (PMT). Vini has the widest coverage across the main islands. 4G LTE is available in Papeete (the capital of Tahiti), Moorea's main bays, and Bora Bora's main village and overwater bungalow areas.
Bora Bora is the most famous destination, and 4G coverage is available in Vaitape village and parts of the lagoon ring road. Overwater bungalow resorts may or may not have direct mobile signal depending on their position on the lagoon. Most high-end resorts also offer WiFi.
Moorea is 17 km from Tahiti and has 4G in Cook's Bay, Opunohu Bay, and main communities. The Tuamotu Archipelago atolls, the Marquesas Islands, and the Austral Islands have very limited signal in main villages and essentially no coverage on the ocean or in interior areas. Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus have basic 4G in village centers. Australian travellers should confirm their handset is unlocked and supports the local network bands.
Apple App Store
