The Hawaiki subsea cable linking Australia and New Zealand with the US and multiple Pacific islands has commenced operation.
The 15,000km cable system, commissioned and operated by Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP, will provide 43Tbps of additional capacity across the Pacific. This represents several times the current capacity levels of Australia and New Zealand combined.
The $300 million system has attracted anchor customers including AWS, Vodafone Group, the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) and Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ).
As well as linking Australia and New Zealand with Hawaii and the west coast of the continental US, the cable system will have branching units to enable future connection to Tonga, Fiji and New Caledonia, with an American Samoa connection available from day one.
“This 25-year transoceanic infrastructure opens the door for unprecedented levels of economic, social and research collaboration right across the Pacific,” Hawaiki CEO Remi Galasso said [PDF].
“Hawaiki is the fastest and largest cross-sectional capacity link between the US and Australia and New Zealand. It will significantly enhance our connectivity to the rest of the world and, ultimately, improve the everyday life of our communities.”
TE Subcom constructed the Hawaiki cable system, and commenced installation in October last year.