Tonga is set to boost its internet reliability with a second undersea cable, the Tonga Hawaiki Branch System, thanks to a joint NZ$42 million (USD$32 million) investment by Australia and New Zealand.
“This project offers more resilience for Tonga’s communications,” said Tongan Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku. “Both cables will be operational. If one cable goes down, traffic will be rerouted through the other.”
The 383-kilometer cable will connect Tonga to the existing Hawaiki Trans-Pacific cable system, improving redundancy and reducing the risk of outages. This is crucial for Tonga, which has suffered disruptions from previous undersea cable cuts – once by a ship’s anchor in 2019 and again by a HUnga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption in 2022.
“The survey for the cable route also looked at avoiding volcanic areas,” Australian High Commissioner HE Brek Bratley said, emphasising the project’s focus on long-term durability.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku sees the improved connectivity as a key step towards his vision of free internet for education. “Making education accessible and providing students with online resources is how we invest in our youth,” he stated.
Australian support for the project is expected to contribute to managing domestic internet costs in Tonga. “With two cables, Tonga can negotiate for cheaper rates, making internet services more affordable,” the Prime Minister noted.
Digital infrastructure operator BW Digital will collaborate with Tonga Cable Limited to oversee the project’s delivery, aiming for completion by late 2025.
