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An AIFFP grant is supporting the Government of Timor-Leste with advice to design, manufacture and install the country’s first submarine telecommunications cable.

Connecting Timor-Leste to the internet via submarine cable Timor-Leste is one of the few remaining countries not connected to an international submarine telecommunications cable.

Connecting Timor-Leste to the internet via submarine cable

Timor-Leste

Signed and Announced

Type:
Telecommunications
Investment:
AUD7.2 million

Delivery partners

Government of Timor-Leste
Vocus Group

We’re proud to work with the Government of Timor-Leste to deliver faster, cheaper and more reliable internet connectivity to communities.

We’re providing advisory support to three stages of the project, which the Government of Timor-Leste is funding and delivering. This includes development of a Front End Engineering Design to scope various cable design and route options and technical and engineering requirements; procurement support to source a turnkey marine vendor; and support for the design and procurement of the project’s landing infrastructure.

Advisory support

to three sequential contracts

Our support to the project has evolved over time to be responsive to the needs and requests of the Government of Timor-Leste, with the project supporting the strengthening of Australia and Timor-Leste’s partnership.

With Timor-Leste one of the few remaining countries not connected to an international submarine telecommunications cable, the project will enable ICT-driven economic growth and development.

The completed cable will enable greater connections between people, business and governments across Timor-Leste and the wider Pacific.

Our financing package includes a grant of AUD7.2 million to provide advisory support to the Government of Timor-Leste.

AIFFP contribution

AUD7.2 million

 Amount (AUD million)Fixed interest rateTenor
Grant$7.2n/an/a

Impact

Timor-Leste currently connects to the internet through satellite and microwave radio, which makes access expensive and slow. A submarine telecommunications cable will enable a transformation of Timor-Leste’s digital connection with the world and support its post-COVID economic recovery.