The arrival of the East Micronesia Cable in South Tarawa has marked a major milestone in Kiribati’s digital development journey, with the undersea telecommunications cable set to transform connectivity across the island nation.
The project represents the first-ever subsea cable to reach South Tarawa and will provide faster, higher-quality, more affordable, and more reliable internet. By improving digital infrastructure, the initiative strengthens Kiribati’s climate resilience, enhances government capacity in disaster and climate change response, and reduces vulnerability to outages during severe weather. Most significantly, it will help connect communities—across islands, across the region, and globally.
A ceremony to mark the cable’s landing at Nanikai brought together development partners and Kiribati government officials. Australia’s Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, called the occasion “a critical milestone in improving telecommunications connectivity for Kiribati to ensure its progression into a digital future.”
Jointly funded by Australia, Japan, and the United States, the East Micronesia Cable project will connect Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to the existing HANTRU-1 landing point in Pohnpei, FSM, via a 2,250-kilometre subsea cable. In Kiribati, project delivery is being led locally by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Transport and BwebwerikiNET Limited.
Once operational, expected in November 2025, the cable will benefit more than 100,000 people across the three nations, unlocking better access to digital government services, enhancing trade, and opening up new employment opportunities.
Australia’s support for the AUD135 million project is being delivered through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), with a grant contribution of up to AUD65 million. The AIFFP’s commitment to quality infrastructure ensures the project also delivers local employment and skills-building opportunities.
“Australia is proud to celebrate this critical milestone alongside our partners and invest in infrastructure that has real impact on communities across the Pacific,” said Australia’s High Commissioner to Kiribati, Mr Mark Foxe. “The East Micronesia Cable project will be transformative for the people of Kiribati.”
Ceremonial buoy landings are scheduled to take place in Nauru and Kosrae (FSM) in the coming weeks as work continues toward final commissioning.
Main picture: Cable laying vessel Normand Clipper laying the cable to Tarawa Cable Landing Station. Pic: AIFFP
