by Martin Haffner Associate Editor
Tuvalu’s first international underwater communications cable landed in the tiny island nation’s capital Funafuti this week.
The Tuvalu Vaka Cable is jointly funded by the Australian, Taiwan, United States, Japan, and New Zealand governments.
Tuvalu’s Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation Minister Simon Kofe said that the subsea cable connection “is more than an infrastructure project” for the country.
Tuvalu’s first international underwater communications cable arrived in Funafuti this week. Photo: X / @Simon_Kofe
“It sets the stage for Tuvalu’s transformation into a digital nation,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“This is a significant step forward, and we look ahead with optimism and excitement for the opportunities it will unlock.
Exciting times are ahead!” he added.
He also thanked Google for its decision to include Tuvalu in the Central Pacific Cable system.
Tuvalu’s Telecommunication Corporation general manager Tenanoia Simona said the island has struggled with limited internet access for years.
With the arrival of the submarine cable, she said, “we are closing that gap, opening doors for businesses, educators, and our vibrant communities.”
The new subsea cable branch is off the Builikula cable, which connects Guam, the Marianas islands, Hawaii, Fiji, and French Polynesia.
Land works for the cable have now started on Funafuti.
