Australia has helped achieve a major milestone for the region, with all Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members now connected to undersea telecommunications cables for the first time.
Working alongside Pacific governments and development partners, Australia has helped deliver more than 10,300 kilometres of new undersea cables, ensuring every PIF member is connected to the global cable network.
A more connected Pacific advances our shared interests by strengthening regional resilience, supporting economic development and deepening connections between our countries and peoples.
Australia has committed more than $500 million since 2018 to support undersea cable connectivity across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
This investment has helped deliver cable projects across nine countries, including primary cable connections for Naoero, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Australia is also working with partners to strengthen the reliability and resilience of telecommunications infrastructure through support for second international cable connections in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Solomon Islands.
These investments are being delivered in partnership with Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as Taiwan. They will help connect Pacific governments, businesses, communities and peoples to global networks and digital markets, opening new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic participation.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong:
"For the first time, every Pacific Islands Forum member now has access to the digital infrastructure needed to participate fully in the modern economy, backed in with Australian support.
"A more connected Pacific is a more resilient Pacific. This infrastructure strengthens economic growth, supports essential services and will help underpin a more peaceful, stable and prosperous region."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy MP:
"Faster, more affordable and more reliable digital services will help integrate our economies, making it easier for Pacific peoples and businesses to connect, and investment to flow across the region.
"With new connections comes greater opportunities, better information flows and knowledge sharing, supporting Pacific Island countries to fully participate in the global economy."
