Senior representatives from Australia and Nauru were in Japan this week alongside partners from Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Japan and the United States to attend the East Micronesia Cable Project Executive Board meeting. 

Discussions between the six partner governments focused on business and financial planning as well as system operations and maintenance in preparation for the telecommunications cable being ready for service by November 2025. 

The delegation also visited the East Micronesia Cable project’s submarine cable supplier NEC Corporation’s factory in Otsuki, where a range of equipment for the2,250-kilometre-long cable is being manufactured. Loading of the cable onto the cable lay ship the Normand Clipper commenced in late May, with the laying of the cable scheduled to start in July. 

The East Micronesia Cable project is funded by Australia, Japan and the United States and will improve connectivity across Nauru, FSM and Kiribati. The submarine telecommunications cable will provide more than 100,000 people across the three countries with more reliable and affordable internet. 

Australia is supporting the AUD135 million project via the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, with a grant of AUD60 million. Australia is proud to play a role in supporting better access to services, information and worldwide markets for Nauruan communities.

The Nauru Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology and the Nauru Fibre Cable Corporation celebrated a significant milestone in delivery of Nauru’s first international submarine cable connection, with the official launch of project civil works.