Google, US, Australia to Build Undersea Cables for Pacific Islands

Alphabet's Google to Expand Pacific Internet Access with US-Australia Deal

Google is set to announce a joint deal with the United States and Australia to expand internet access to eight Pacific island nations, according to a US official.

The deal will build on Google's existing commercial project in the region and connect Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Both governments will contribute to the project, with Australia providing $50 million and the United States adding $15 million.

The Pacific island nations have become an area of intense focus in recent years, with both China and the United States vying for influence. The United States has also been pushing for dominance in telecommunications services, seeing the industry as a key national security issue.

Google is currently working on a fiber-optic cable that links Taiwan with the Philippines and the United States. As part of the Pacific islands project, the United States will also work with the countries on cybersecurity resilience, helping them back up key information to global cloud networks.

The deal is expected to be announced during an official White House visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.