Google unveiled plans for two new central Pacific subsea cables:
- Bulikula will connect Guam with Fiji and is the Fijian word for “golden cowrie,” a rare shell found in the Pacific Ocean often worn by local chieftains as a badge of rank.
- Halaihai, which will link Guam and French Polynesia, is named after a type of vine that grows on beaches.
The new cables are part of a central Pacific Connect initiative between Google and a number of partners, including Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), APTelecom, and Telstra.
The central Pacific Connect initiative will create a ring between Guam, French Polynesia and Fiji. 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. Once operational, Bulikula and Halaihai will join Guam’s existing subsea cable portfolio — which includes Apricot, Echo, and Taiwan-Philippines-U.S. — accelerating the island’s position as a growing gateway for international connectivity.
“Beyond bridging the digital divide in our local community, this is Guam’s contribution — enabling new digital infrastructure such as subsea cables — to create and support connectivity between the northern and southern Pacific islands,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Our economic futures are all dependent on digital technology, and we welcome the Halaihai and the Bulikula subsea cables to uplift our people together.” – Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero
“The announcement of the central Pacific Connect initiative gives every indication for a well-connected Region aligned to the Pacific Leaders vision for 2050. The Bulikula and Halaihai subsea cables will underpin the Pacific Peoples digital interconnectedness and lead the way for economic transformation through digital connectivity.” – Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Honourable Manoa Kamikamica
“Looking at a map, my country’s location at the center of the great Pacific Ocean spells ‘connectivity.’ I am therefore enthusiastic that Google has chosen to add Guam and Chile to the growing hub of submarine cables connected to Tahiti. A world better connected is a better world.” – President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia
“Telstra International’s partnership with Google on the central Pacific Connect project will significantly improve connectivity in the South Pacific. Over several decades Telstra has established the largest carrier subsea cable network in APAC, and with our operational scale, we are looking forward to partnering with Google and APT to provide much needed redundancy and vital capacity to underserved island countries.” – Roary Stasko, CEO Telstra International
The central Pacific Connect initiative builds on the South Pacific Connect initiative, announced in October 2023, that will create a ring between Australia, Fiji and French Polynesia. This southern ring will also 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.
