Realities of limited telecommunications and Internet service delivery are putting a restraint on expectations of major impact from new media in Pacific nations. This paper argues that, for development tasks at least, a leap forward based on new technology is as yet rather much to expect. The widest range of considerations has to be kept in mind – all forms of mass communication media that are available to use and adapt, other opportunity factors, and obstacles to communication.

The paper will examine two cases: the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea, and the island nation of Tuvalu. In Papua New Guinea, there is currently little access to the Internet, and what there is tends to be slow and limited. More traditional forms of media, such as radio broadcasting, stand to deliver good returns if developed well. In Tuvalu, online participation is restricted due to limited Internet access, slow or congested bandwidth speeds, and lack of access to computer services and repairs.

The method of investigation for the two case studies is principally direct observation by the researcher in each case. During extended visits to the two developing regions in question, the researchers participated in local media production or assisted with training. In each case, extensive preparatory work was undertaken, including a review of relevant scholarly literature on regional issues and mass media