Powercom Systems, a company of highly experienced professional communications engineers has used its experience in working in Tasmania's isolated regions to develop solutions for challenging locations.

Powercom Systems showed it can meet the requirements of any communications job in the world by setting up TV and radio, internet broadcasting throughout the remote Pacific Ocean country of Kiribati, which is a spread of small islands and atolls over 3,500km in the Pacific Ocean.

The Republic of Kiribati occupies the largest area of any Pacific country in the region.

Three of the most remote islands that make up the Republic of Kiribati (Christmas Island, Fanning Island and Washington Island) all now have radio, telephones and faxes this is a first for two of the islands. Previously communications were made by word of mouth or newspapers delivered to each island.

Now with the internet and VOIP (voice over IP) via satellite transmission the rest of the world is not so far away for the I-Kiribati people.

"Having radio may not seem a big deal in Australia with all our communications resources, but to the I-Kiribati people it is a huge step forward and opens up a whole new world to the country," Powercom Systems Managing Director, Phillip Tompson said.

"For example locals said to me we have only had one ear to the world, but now we can listen with both ears," he said.

The benefits of the improved communications is immense, local hospitals can now call physicians in larger areas for emergency help, increased weather warnings to the islands, navigation assistance to fisherman and better logistics tracking of ships between the many islands and atolls that make-up the country.

The importance and value of the radio communications is illustrated loud and clear when Mr Tompson recalled a story of a sick little girl who he visited.

Mr Tompson added that it can take many months for news to reach from one side of the country to the other.

"But now the communities can hear the community, local and world news in real time," he said.

Mr Tompson said the FM Radio network not only helps the transfer of local day to day business activities, but also that of births, deaths, marriages and important cultural events.

The "can do" attitude of Powercom Systems was highlighted in completing the project. Despite a year of planning and three months of on the ground installation the Tasmanians along with their I-Kiribati colleagues had to endure a ship broken down on a reef, crane falling into water.

One island was so treacherous that landing and departure had to be done with the precise tidal conditions on dinghies .

Due to being remote islands all supplies had to be shipped and itemised for each island including tools, paper, pens, even plastic tie downs! Total of three shipping containers were used.

Powercom Systems will complete its Kiribati project by setting up a Wi-MAX based Wireless Internet system later this year.