The Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (CCRC) travelled to Tonga in February 2026 to participate in a Talanoa supporting the development of a regulatory framework to safeguard Tonga’s subsea telecommunications cables and ensure reliable connectivity for communities, businesses, and government.
The Talanoa was held in partnership with the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications, and brought together representatives from across the Tongan Government, cable operators, and ocean management agencies.
Discussions focused on local perspectives on risks to Tonga’s subsea cable infrastructure and explored practical and legislative measures to establish cable protection zones and supporting regulations. Participants also considered how such a framework could align with Tonga’s broader ocean management priorities while reflecting international best practice.
Insights from the Talanoa will inform the development of policy, legislative, and regulatory arrangements for cable protection, in collaboration with the relevant government agencies and community groups.
The CCRC looks forward to continuing its partnership with Tonga to advance these priorities and support resilient digital connectivity across the Pacific.