Australia, Japan, U.S. to fund undersea cable connection in Micronesia
The Associated Press
Japan announced in early June 2023 that it has joined Australia and the United States in a $95 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations to improve digital networks in the Indo-Pacific.
The approximately 2,250-kilometer cable will connect the state of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia, Tarawa in Kiribati and Nauru to the existing cable landing point in Pohnpei, Micronesia, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Australia, Japan and the U.S. have expanded cooperation with Pacific Island Countries (PIC) as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) seeks to expand its security and economic influence in the region.
In a joint statement, the nations said the next steps would include a final survey and design, and manufacturing of the cable, which is about as wide as a garden hose. Completion is expected about 2025.
The announcement comes just weeks after the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. — known as the Quadrilateral partnership, or Quad — emphasized the importance of undersea cables as a critical component of communications infrastructure and the foundation for internet connectivity.
“Secure and resilient digital connectivity has never been more important,” Matthew Murray, a senior official in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in a statement. “The United States is delighted to be part of this project bringing our region closer together.”
Tokyo-based NEC Corp., which won the contract after a competitive tender, said the cable will ensure high-speed, high-quality and more secure communications for residents, businesses and governments, while contributing to economic development.
The cable will connect more than 100,000 people across the three PICs, according to Kazuya Endo, director general of the international cooperation bureau at the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
