Australia has helped achieve a major milestone for the region, with all Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members now connected to undersea telecommunications cables for the first time.
Working alongside Pacific governments and development partners, Australia has helped deliver more than 10,300 kilometres of new undersea cables, ensuring every PIF member is connected to the global telecommunications cable network.
The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) has played a significant role in this milestone, supporting cable connections for Naoero, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Tarawa in Kiribati, Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Tonga, Palau and Papua New Guinea. These include:
- Tuvalu’s first international undersea cable, the Vaka Cable, which became operational in October 2025, providing more than 10,000 people with access to faster, more reliable internet.
- The East Micronesia Cable, operational since mid-2026, provides international cable connectivity to Naoero, Tarawa in Kiribati and the state of Kosrae in FSM for the first time.
- Tonga’s second international cable, the Tu’i Vava’u Cable, operational since May 2026, strengthens network resilience and provides Tongan communities with more reliable, higher‑capacity telecommunication connectivity, reducing the risk of disruptions during cable outages and disasters.
The AIFFP’s telecommunications investments are being delivered in partnership with Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as Taiwan. They will help connect Pacific governments, businesses, communities and peoples to global networks and digital markets, opening new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic participation.
Improved connectivity will enable better access to services, information and worldwide markets, while connecting families and communities to each other, and across the region.
Australia has committed more than $500 million since 2018 to support undersea cable connectivity across the Pacific and Timor-Leste. A more connected Pacific advances our shared interests by strengthening regional resilience, supporting economic development and deepening connections between our countries and peoples.
Media release: All Pacific Islands Forum members now connected by undersea cables | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs