A quiet but meaningful shift is coming to New Caledonian households as the government and the Office des Postes et Télécommunications de Nouvelle-Calédonie (OPT-NC) move to cut costs and simplify internet access for families.
On 29 August, government member in charge of digital affairs, Christopher Gygès, stood alongside OPT-NC chair Naïa Wateou and director Thomas De Deckker to announce what many Caledonians have long been waiting for — affordable internet without the burden of a fixed-line subscription.
Last June, Gygès had tasked OPT-NC to find a solution to end the unpopular monthly billing of the so-called “landline premium” for households that rely solely on the internet but no longer use a home telephone.
“The objective was above all to give Caledonians a choice and to act directly on their purchasing power,” Gygès said, calling the reform “a major first step” made possible through OPT-NC’s determined efforts.
Helia: A New Chapter in Connectivity
From 1 December 2025, the operator’s fibre offer under the “Helia” brand will deliver internet speeds of up to 1 Gb/s for 2,300 francs a month — a drop from the current 2,650 francs. Most importantly, it will no longer be tied to a compulsory landline subscription.
For households, this translates to average savings of 1,255 francs per month, depending on the package they hold. “Customers will see savings ranging from 350 to 1,900 francs, alongside a tenfold increase in internet speed to match their growing needs,” explained De Deckker.
In all, the reform is expected to inject 440 million francs a year into household purchasing power, benefitting at least 49,000 families across the territory.
“This is a significant investment for OPT-NC,” said Wateou. “Our goal is to meet the daily needs of Caledonians without jeopardising the public service mission that OPT fulfils throughout the country.”
From Fixed Lines to Family Packs
While the change is already a welcome relief for many, OPT-NC views it as only the beginning of a broader transformation. By 2026, the operator plans to roll out new packages where landline telephony becomes optional, alongside family packs that would allow data to be shared across mobile devices.
“The teams are already working on these next steps,” De Deckker noted, underscoring the company’s drive to adapt to lifestyles that are increasingly digital.
The shift comes at a time when landline use is in steep decline. Current figures show that 63 percent of OPTimo internet customers make no outgoing calls from their fixed lines, while 85 percent use less than 30 minutes of voice per month. In contrast, demand for faster internet continues to rise, fuelled by 4K streaming, remote work, online gaming, and cloud services.
For families juggling costs and trying to stay connected, the change signals more than just faster downloads or cheaper bills — it represents a small but vital measure of breathing room.
