Digicel Group called for a new submarine fibre optic cable to connect 12 Pacific Islands to Sydney, at a Private Sector Forum of the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, in Samoa on August 31.

He said there wouldn’t be a real change in economic growth in most of the Pacific Islands until a submarine cable is built to these remote countries.

"Broadband is the umbilical cord for economic development. The private sector must partner with the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, IFC, the European Union and Pacific Governments to come together to build a submarine cable in order to close the digital divide that exists where Pacific Island nations do not have access to broadband. The cable would lead to the death of distance and bring this last geographic frontier into the global information age."

He said the submarine cable would deliver unlimited connectivity to consumer and business customers and have a major impact in developing economies of these island states.

Meanwhile, Rachel Kyte the World Bank's Vice-President and Special Envoy for Climate Change supported in principle O'Brien's vision to increase connectivity. She indicated the World Bank would follow if Digicel were to lead the project.

"I want to see that every child has access to the internet, despite their location they should be able to access a virtual classroom. A new submarine cable will deliver much greater bandwidth while significantly reducing the cost of accessibility for people, making it much easier for them to become part of the information age. It will become vital to the national economies of the islands."

Digicel is understood to be in negotiation with the World Bank on cost.