Tusi Tala, Staff Writer
Tuvalu’s first international underwater communications cable arrived in the capital, Funafuti, this week. The Tuvalu Vaka Cable is financed collaboratively by the governments of Australia, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand.
Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s Minister for Transport, Energy, Communication, and Innovation, emphasized that this subsea cable represents more than just an infrastructure project. He stated that it paves the way for Tuvalu’s evolution into a digital nation, expressing optimism about the opportunities it will bring.
Kofe also expressed gratitude to Google for incorporating Tuvalu into the Central Pacific Cable system.
Tenanoia Simona, the general manager of Tuvalu’s Telecommunication Corporation, noted that the island has faced challenges with limited internet access for years. With the submarine cable’s arrival, she believes they are bridging that gap and creating new opportunities for businesses, educators, and the community.
The new cable branches off from the Builikula cable, which links Guam, the Marianas Islands, Hawaii, Fiji, and French Polynesia. Construction work for the cable has now begun in Funafuti.
