Hawaiian Telcom and IT International Telecom Announce Contract-in-Force

Press Release, Hawaiian Telcom
March 9, 2026

IT selected for turnkey design, supply and installation of the Kunoa North fiber-optic inter-island cable system

Honolulu, HI, USA, and Bridgetown, BARBADOS – Hawaiian Telcom, Inc., and I.T. International Telecom Marine SRL, today announced an agreement for the turnkey design, supply and installation of Hawaiian Telcom’s new Kunoa North inter-island fiber optic cable system that will enhance connectivity across the Hawaiian Islands. The project is expected to be completed in 2028.

“Providing reliable, high-speed internet access in Hawai’i, especially for those in rural, underserved, or unserved communities, is one of our top priorities,” said Su Shin, president of Hawaiian Telcom. “Our partnership with IT will help us maximize our fiber presence throughout the state and deliver gigabit connectivity to residents and businesses across Hawai’i.”

The north-focused project complements Hawaiian Telcom’s existing southern fiber route and will create a more resilient fiber network that seamlessly allows rerouting to minimize service disruptions.

“IT has a 30-year history of successful subsea cable system implementation across the globe and between the Hawaiian Islands,” said Steve Arsenault, vice president, sales and marketing at IT. “The unique northern route for Kunoa North will add much needed redundancy to ultimately strengthen the overall resiliency of Hawai’i’s subsea digital infrastructure. IT is proud to contribute to this important work.”

The system is planned to be a high-capacity, low-latency, repeaterless fiber optic subsea cable system, which is critical to Hawaiian Telcom’s middle-mile inter-island network system.

Hawaiian Telcom’s $87 million Kunoa North project includes a $37 million National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grant, with the remaining $50 million financed by Hawaiian Telcom.

The Kunoa North project supports the State of Hawai’i’s Connect Kākou initiative, designed to make high-speed, reliable internet service more accessible and affordable, and support digital equity in Hawai’i.

About Hawaiian Telcom

Hawaiian Telcom is the only organization in the state that provides 100% fiber internet service. Hawaiian Telcom is investing $1.7 billion to make Hawai‘i the first fully fiber enabled state in the nation by the end of 2026. To date, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaua‘i have been fully fiber enabled. Maui will be fully fiber-enabled by the summer 2026, and Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu will be fully fiber-enabled by the end of 2026.

Hawaiian Telcom has been named the “Top Rated Internet by Consumers” and “Top Gaming Experience” by Ookla, an objective, independent source and global leader in connectivity intelligence. For more information, visit hawaiiantel.com.

About IT International Telecom

IT is an ISO-certified provider of desktop study, marine route survey, engineering design, installation, and maintenance services for submarine cable systems worldwide. IT is pleased to work towards providing clients with the best technical solutions at the most competitive prices in the industry, constantly striving to meet the ever-changing climate and challenges of subsea projects.

For more information, visit www.ittelecom.com or contact [email protected].