East Micronesia Cable marks a major milestone for Pacific connectivity

A major step forward for digital connectivity across the Pacific has been reached with the completion of the East Micronesia Cable system.

The milestone was announced on 1 September by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy, marking the completion of a six-nation partnership delivering new undersea telecommunications infrastructure across Micronesia.

The 2,250 km undersea cable will bring faster, more reliable and more affordable internet connectivity to more than 100,000 people across Naoero, Tarawa in Kiribati and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia. It will also strengthen the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure supporting essential services, businesses and communities.

The project brings together the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Naoero, with support from Australia, Japan and the United States. Australia contributed approximately AUD65 million towards the AUD135 million project through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.

Importantly, completion of the East Micronesia Cable means all Pacific Islands Forum members are now connected to undersea telecommunications infrastructure — a significant milestone for a more connected and digitally resilient Pacific.

Watch the official East Micronesia Cable video, produced by the AIFFP Communications team.