Australian Minister for Pacific Island Affairs the Hon Pat Conroy MP marked the milestone at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, recognising its significance and highlighting the partnership between the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Naoero, Australia, Japan, and the United States that made it possible.
The 2,250-kilometre East Micronesia Cable will bring faster, more reliable and more affordable internet to more than 100,000 people across Micronesia, supporting essential services, enabling business opportunities and connecting people and nations to the global economy in an increasingly digital world.
The cable also greatly reduces the risk of telecommunications outages, helping people and businesses stay connected to the everyday services they rely on.
The Australian Government contributed approximately AUD65 million to the AUD135 million project through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, alongside funding from Japan and United States.
This is a historic milestone, with the Republic of Naoero, Tarawa in Kiribati and the state of Kosrae in FSM now connected to an international undersea telecommunications cable for the first time. Watch our video (linked below) to learn more about the East Micronesia Cable.
Working alongside Pacific governments and development partners, Australia has helped deliver 10,300 kilometres of new underseas cables, ensuring every Pacific Islands Forum member is connected to the global cable network.
The AIFFP is supporting undersea telecommunications cables and ancillary infrastructure in FSM, Kiribati, Naoero, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Tonga, Palau and Papua New Guinea.
Related resources: