By Katalina Siasau

A second international undersea telecommunications cable to Tonga, named the “Tonga Hawaiki Branch System” will be co-funded by Australia and New Zealand. Under a USD$32 million investment fund, Australia is contributing USD$19.3 million and New Zealand USD$12.7 million.

The project, which is expected to be in place by late 2025, was jointly announced by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, with the Australian High Commissioner, HE Brek Bratley, and the New Zealand High Commissioner, HE Matthew Howell, on 21 June, at St. George Government Building, Nuku’alofa.

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said that this joint project with Australia and New Zealand will offer more resilience for communications because there will be two cables operating in Tonga. 

“Both cables will be operational. If one cable goes down, the traffic will rerouted through the other one and vice versa,” the PM said. 

Tonga Hawaiki Branch System

The planned Tonga Hawaiki Branch System will be connected from the Hawaiki Trans-Pacific cable system to Vava’u, on a 383 km route.

A survey of the route for the cable has been conducted over the past week between the Hawaiki trunk cable and the landing point in Vava'u to identify the most efficient and resilient cable lay route.

HE Brek Batley said that the survey also looked at routes that avoid some volcanic areas.

The PM said that since the two international cables are on different routes, it was unlikely that any event affecting one cable would affect the other one too.

“Hopefully that is going to minimise the risk that an event can affect both of them, at the same time.”

Tonga's submarine internet cable has been cut twice - once in 2019 by a ship's anchor, and again in 2022 by the HTHH volanic eruption.

Free internet for Education

The Prime Minister aims to provide free internet for education in Tonga.

“Ultimately what we'd like is more affordable internet connections, and I’ve stated that a good start will be free internet for education.

“That's how you invest in your youth, invest by making education accessible, not only that but provide them with the tools to actually have access to some of the online resources out there.”

HE Brek Batley said that Australia’s support in this project would help with managing the cost of the internet services domestically.

The PM noted that with two cables, they could compete for cheaper rates, thus making services more affordable.

Digital infrastructure operator, BW Digital will work closely with Tonga Cable Limited to oversee project delivery.