Telstra International has teamed up with Google and APTelecom to launch the central Pacific Connect initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity for the Pacific region. The initiative hopes to bridge the digital gap by providing a substantial boost to both individuals and businesses across the Pacific.
At the core of this project are two vital undersea cables – Bulikula and Halaihai. The Bulikula cable is set to link Guam with Fiji, while the Halaihai cable will connect Guam with French Polynesia.
Telstra is poised to play a pivotal role as a key telecommunications provider for the central Pacific Connect. It will take charge of owning and operating a crucial fibre pair on the Bulikula cable’s core trunk, establishing a vital link between Guam and Fiji. Bulikula is the Fijian word for “golden cowrie”, a rare shell emblematic of Pacific Ocean richness, Bulikula symbolises the project’s commitment to prosperity and connectivity.
Looking ahead, Telstra is gearing up to collaborate with other carriers and governments, aiming to contribute to the construction and operation of branches extending to various Pacific islands. These branches will serve as gateways, facilitating access to essential digital services and enhancing network performance, redundancy and reliability across the region.
“Telstra has decades of experience providing international connectivity in the Pacific, and with our network scale and local expertise, we are looking forward to partnering with Google and APTelecom to build reliable, high-performance connectivity for island countries. We’re committed to improving infrastructure across the region, which will support the future growth of local economies,” said Roary Stasko, CEO of Telstra International.
Telstra is also collaborating with Google on the Tabua cable. When combined with the central Pacific Connect initiative, the Tabua cable is set to improve connectivity by significantly diversifying the paths between Guam and Australia via Fiji and other Pacific islands, as well as between the US mainland and Australia.
Entelechy Asia 