FEATURE
BRIDGING THE GAPS
Submarine Fibre Optic Cables Around the Pacific Region BY JOHN HIBBARD AND PAUL MCCANN
S
ome 12 months ago we provided readers with an INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATIONS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS outline of the excellent progress that is being made Since mid-2019, several international systems have been in building the mesh of submarine fibre optic cables implemented and several more are planned. around the Pacific Region (“Lighting up the Pacific” – STF 107). In that paper we focussed on the conTHE CORAL SEA CABLE nectivity for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and presented The Coral Sea Cable was implemented in December the following table showing the number of cables either ex- 2019 providing connectivity from Sydney to both Port isting or being constructed or planned in mid-2019 which Moresby (PNG) and Honiara (Solomon Islands). Port Moservice PICs. resby, the capital of PNG, is on the southern coast of the Of the PICs being serviced by 54 cables, 34 involve spurs from BUs and 20 are point-to-point. International Domestic Cables (2019) Additionally, we did an analysis of the submarine cables In service 18 15 serving PICs which identified how adequately PICs are Under Construction 10 5 served with international cable connectivity. The following In Development/ Planning 4 2 table indicates those with international 32 22 Total connectivity to at least their capital city: Category PICs Percentage These tables clearly demonstrated that American Samoa, CNMI, Fiji, Guam, the Pacific Island nations were increasWell Connected 23% Samoa ingly being connected with cables. But FSM, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, how are they going now, a year later – Reasonably Connected 41% Palau, RMI, Tonga, Vanuatu, PNG, W&F are we “Bridging the Gap” between ‘the Cook Is, Kiribati, Niue, Tokelau, haves and the have nots’ of the submaConnections under Construction 23% Solomon Is rine cable world?
34
SUBMARINE TELECOMS MAGAZINE
Plans for Connection
Tuvalu, Nauru
9%
No Plans for Connection
Pitcairn Island
4%