Small island needing a technology for modern communications (3)
I believe the answer is:
ait
'small island' is the definition.
(an ait is a small island in a river)
'a technology for modern communications' is the wordplay.
'technology for modern communications' becomes 'IT' (information technology).
'a'+'it'='AIT'
'needing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ait that I've seen before include "isle" , "Small island in river or lake" .)