The governments of Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Nauru, Japan, and the United States are collaborating to deliver faster, high-quality, and more reliable internet access to Pacific communities.
As part of the East Micronesia Cable System, the first of four planned cable landing stations has been successfully installed in Pohnpei, FSM. This milestone marks a crucial step in enhancing digital connectivity across FSM, Kiribati, and Nauru through a state-of-the-art submarine cable network.
Additional landing stations are set to be installed in Kiribati, Nauru, and Kosrae, in the coming months. Once fully operational in December 2025, the 2,250-kilometer-long undersea cable will provide more than 100,000 people across these three nations with improved internet access, enhancing digital services, expanding access to global markets, and fostering economic growth.
Funded primarily by Australia through an AUD 60 million grant from the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), alongside contributions from Japan and the United States, the AUD 135 million project will connect Kosrae (FSM), Tarawa (Kiribati), and Nauru to the existing HANTRU-1 cable landing point in Pohnpei.
Beyond boosting connectivity, this six-nation initiative will enhance the availability of digital government services, create new trade and employment opportunities, and strengthen climate resilience. By ensuring stable and secure digital infrastructure, the project will help mitigate network outages caused by extreme weather, supporting disaster preparedness and climate adaptation efforts.
