East Micronesia Submarine Cable Project

About the Project

Japan-US-Australia partnership plan to lay submarine cables to three Pacific Island Countries (Federate States of Micronesia, Nauru and Kiribati). The submarine cable, which is already connected from Guam to Pohnpei in Micronesia, will be extended to Kosrae in Micronesia, and then to Tarawa, the capital of the Republic of Kiribati. Japan is in charge of the main line to Kiribati and the Nauru branch line. The subsea fiber-optic cable will span approximately for 2,250 kilometers.

Nauru and Kiribati currently rely on satellites for the majority of their internet connections, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry. The planned undersea cable will give the more than 100,000 people on the three Pacific Island Countries access to high-speed, high-quality telecommunications.

Start and End Date

January
2022
-
January
2026

Geographical Focus

Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru

Main Beneficiary

Government and Private Sector

Status

Active

Budget ($)

95000000

Donors

Australia, Japan, United States of America

Implementing Agency

JICS

Contact Person

Andrea Ibba
Pacific E-commerce Coordinator

Policy Area

PA2. ICT Infrastructure & Services

Strategic Output

2.1. International connectivity is expanded and strengthened across the Pacific

Measures

2.1.1 Expand the submarine cable infrastructure and its affordability in the Pacific to ensure all FICs are connected to main international cables and broadband bandwidth is acquired with the best value for money approach. Enable appropriate satellite solutions especially Middle-/Low-Earth-Orbit (MEO/ LEO) connectivity for some more remote islands.

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