The East Micronesia Cable (EMC) project has reached a major implementation milestone, with the first of four cable landing stations installed in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The project, which will significantly enhance internet speed, reliability and resilience across FSM, Kiribati and Nauru, is on track for completion by December 2025.
The landing station in Pohnpei is part of a 2,250-kilometre undersea fibre-optic cable system designed to connect the islands of Kosrae (FSM), Tarawa (Kiribati) and Nauru to the existing HANTRU-1 cable infrastructure already established in Pohnpei. Installations in Kosrae, Nauru and Kiribati are planned for the coming months.
Funded by Australia, Japan, and the United States, the AUD135 million EMC project is a flagship investment in digital infrastructure in the North Pacific. Australia is providing a $60 million grant through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), reinforcing its commitment to strengthening digital access, resilience and development across the region.
Once operational, the new cable will connect more than 100,000 people in the three countries to faster and more stable internet. The project is expected to have wide-ranging economic and social impacts, from improved digital access in schools and clinics, to better support for e-commerce, remote work, and digital government services.
In a region where geography has long been a barrier to connectivity, the EMC is set to transform access to services, information, and global markets. Currently, many communities rely on satellite connections, which are expensive, prone to latency, and vulnerable to outages during extreme weather events.
The EMC will not only improve service quality but will also enhance the resilience of national telecommunications systems to climate-related shocks and disasters. Improved communications infrastructure is a key enabler of climate adaptation, emergency response and long-term economic growth.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described the EMC as “a high-quality, strategic investment in the digital future of our Pacific family.” With the first landing station now in place, the project moves into its next phase of construction, bringing the promise of a more connected and resilient Pacific one step closer to reality.
