Google unveils South Pacific Connect initiative to build two new transpacific subsea cables

Google has announced plans for the South Pacific Connect initiative, which will deliver two new transpacific subsea cables — Honomoana and Tabua —which will connect Fiji and French Polynesia to both the United States and Australia, and help increase the reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in the Pacific.

Honomoana, named after the Polynesian word for “link” (hono) and “ocean” (moana), will connect the United States and Australia to French Polynesia. Tabua, named after a sacred Fijian whale’s tooth, will connect the United States and Australia to Fiji.

In addition, the South Pacific Connect initiative will construct physically diverse cable landing stations in Fiji and French Polynesia and connect them with an interlink cable. This will serve to connect transpacific routes, improve reliability, add capacity, and reduce latency for users in the Pacific Islands and around the world.

The South Pacific Connect initiative will create a ring between Australia, Fiji and French Polynesia. This ring will include pre-positioned branching units that will allow other countries and territories of Oceania to take advantage of the reliability and resilience resulting from the initiative. This is one of the first projects of its kind in the Pacific, providing the ability to bring redundant international connectivity to a region that is susceptible to natural disasters.

Google will collaborate with Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL), Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia (OPT), APTelecom and Vocus Group for the South Pacific Connect initiative.

South Pacific Connect initiative, Image courtesy: Google