East Micronesia Cable Lands in Kiribati
Cable lay vessel Normand Clipper laying the cable to Tarawa Cable Landing Station
Tarawa, Kiribati – 26 July 2025 – The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) project reached a major milestone with the successful landing of the undersea telecommunications cable in Tarawa, Kiribati. The event, marked by the floating of the cable to shore, signals that the project is on track for service commencement by November 2025.
The celebration was led by the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, and Minister for Information, Communications and Transport, Hon. Alexander Teabo. They were joined by senior government officials and representatives from the project’s international partners: Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Attendees at the Cable Lay Ceremony: Australia’s Special Envoy for the Pacific, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, Senior Development Advisor, U.S. Embassy, Suva, Mr Michael Glees and Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Kiribati, Mr. Suzuki Hideyuki
Distinguished guests included Australia’s Special Envoy for the Pacific, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, Australian High Commissioner Mr. Mark Foxe, Japan’s Charge d'Affaires ad interim Mr. Suzuki Hideyuki, and U.S. Embassy Senior Development Advisor Mr. Michael Glees. A Ceremonial Buoy was handed over to the President of Kiribati to mark the occasion.
Funded with AUD135 million from the three partner nations, the EMC project will deliver a 2,250-kilometre subsea cable connecting Tarawa (Kiribati), Nauru, and Kosrae (FSM) to the existing HANTRU-1 cable in Pohnpei, FSM. The infrastructure will significantly enhance digital connectivity, enabling better access to government services, boosting trade and employment, and improving climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
CEO BwebwerikiNET (BNL) Ioane Koroivuki and NEC official holding Tarawa Ceremonial Buoy
Ceremonial Buoy events for Nauru and Kosrae are scheduled in the coming weeks, as the region prepares for a new era of digital transformation and connectivity.
nem is the appointed Project Coordination Unit to the EMC.
Unloading cable and repeater during cable lay from the Normand Clipper