VAKA Cable Lands in Tuvalu, The Nation’s First Submarine Cable
By Winston Qiu
December 12, 2024
Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation (TTC) announced the successful landing of the nation’s first submarine cable, the Tuvalu VAKA Cable, marking a monumental leap forward for connectivity and digital inclusion for Tuvalu.
The Tuvalu Vaka Cable is the first international telecommunications cable connecting Tuvalu, being a branch linking Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu, with the trunk of the Bulikula cable system, part of Google's Pacific Connect initiative.
Vaka embodies the spirit of connectivity and progress, drawing from the cultural significance of the traditional Tuvalu canoe, or “vaka.” Historically, the vaka served as a vessel for journeying, trade, and cultural exchange across vast oceans, representing resilience, exploration, and unity.
Today, the Tuvalu Vaka Cable symbolizes a modern link, a digital bridge that connects Tuvalu to the world. More than a conduit for communication, it is an emblem of Tuvalu's aspirations for growth, development, and shared understanding, carrying the promise of enhanced opportunities and a strengthened global presence for Tuvalu.
The Tuvalu Vaka Cable project is developed by Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation, in collaboration with Google, supplied by SubCom.
The Tuvalu Vaka Cable system contains four fiber pairs that land in Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu.
According to the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), the Tuvalu Vaka Cable project costs approximately USD56 million (AUD80 million equivalent), 100% grant funded by the US, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, contribution from Australia up to USD37 million (AUD53 million equivalent).
On October 16, 2023, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to Tuvalu Telecom Corporation (TTC) for a feasibility study to support the development of the Central Pacific Cable, a 15,900-kilometer subsea cable between Guam and American Samoa that will provide new or expanded connectivity to up to 12 Pacific Island countries. TTC selected Florida-based APTelecom LLC to conduct the feasibility study. The Central Pacific Cable project demonstrates a strategic initiative of the United States, which aims to connect various Pacific islands and seeks to boost the U.S.’s interests in the Pacific region, where it competes for influence with China.
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