Australia, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government and the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company (SISCC), is supporting development of a second international submarine telecommunications cable for Solomon Islands – the Adamasia Cable System 1.
The commitment was jointly announced by Prime Minister Manele and Senator the Hon. Nita Green, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, at the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum.
The project will be funded through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), with a grant and loan financing package of USD72.71 million, approximately AUD104 million [AUD71.9 million grant, AUD31.9 million loan].
The 1,015-kilometre cable will interconnect with Google’s Bulikula system, delivering more resilient international connectivity for the Solomon Islands and create new economic and social opportunities for businesses and government.
Delivered by Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company, the project will enhance disaster resilience by reducing the risk of outages during severe weather events and providing critical redundancy for the existing international submarine cable network.
As part of Australia’s commitment to climate-resilient infrastructure, the financing package includes an AUD1.8 million contribution from AIFFP’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership to support an off-grid electricity generation and storage capability.
This initiative represents the third major AIFFP project in the Solomon Islands, complementing five small off-grid renewable energy projects delivered through Renew Pacific. Together, these partnerships demonstrate the shared commitment of Australia and the Solomon Islands to delivering essential, climate-resilient infrastructure that drives long-term social and economic benefits.