Pacific

In the Pacific, subsea cables are a lifeline that connect some of the world’s most remote nations to each other and the world. The Centre supports Pacific governments through technical assistance, research and policy analysis, and dialogue and knowledge sharing to strengthen cable protection and long-term resilience for governments, industry, and communities across the region.

News and Resources

2026-08-18

Tuvalu shares experience protecting Vaka cable at APT Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific – Read more

The Government of Tuvalu and the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (CCRC) shared insights from policy and regulatory work to strengthen the protection of Vaka cable – Tuvalu's first subsea telecommunications cable at the 19th Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Policy and Regulation Forum (PRFP-19). Held in Funafuti, Tuvalu from 4–6 August 2026, the PRFP-19 brought together policymakers, and regulators from across the Pacific to share policy and regulatory approaches for advancing digital transformation in the Pacific including practical approaches to strengthening digital connectivity, resilience and critical infrastructure. The Government of Tuvalu and CCRC presented a session that showcased the development of a cable protection framework and supporting legislation for Vaka Cable. Vaka Cable is critical infrastructure providing reliable international connectivity and supporting enhanced opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic growth. Protecting this infrastructure is essential to ensuring Tuvalu remains connected now and into the future. Ms. Simalua Taliu, Permanent Secretary of the Government of Tuvalu’s Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communication and Innovation opened the session with an overview of Vaka Cable and the importance of practical measures, supported by effective legislative and regulatory settings, to safeguard this critical infrastructure. The session outlined the Government of Tuvalu and CCRC’s work to develop a locally led cable protection framework, provide policy advice to inform cable protection legislation, and support the legislative drafting process. This included how international best practice in subsea cable policy and protection is adapted to Tuvalu's legal, regulatory and operational context. CCRC also presented its Best Practice Toolkit, which provides practical guidance to Indo-Pacific governments to strengthen policy and regulation frameworks that govern the planning, protections and management of subsea telecommunications cables. The session highlighted the value of trusted partnerships, practical technical support and locally led approaches to strengthening cable protection. CCRC is proud to work alongside the Government of Tuvalu to strengthen the resilience of Vaka cable.

Legal and regulatory frameworks

2026-08-18

Submarine cable repair and maintenance analysis - Report – Read more

The submarine cable industry is undergoing a period of transition including the nature of investment, ownership, routing and user applications. In parallel, government economic and national security concerns amplify the criticality and resilience of international connectivity that submarine cables provide. Pacific island countries are highly dependent on submarine cable connectivity to facilitate international communications. Small island nations face unique challenges to secure a resilient cable network architecture, largely due to geographic isolation, limited telecommunications markets and cable investment challenges. The impact of connectivity disruption is closely tied to each island’s cable infrastructure, treats, redundancy and network resilience profile. Although submarine cables are by their nature vulnerable to disruption, strengthening network resilience can be accomplished by methods other than investing in more cables.

Resilience planning

2026-08-13

Best Practice Toolkit: Subsea Telecommunications Cable Policy and Regulation in the Indo-Pacific – Read more

The Best Practice Toolkit is intended to support governments across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen the policy and regulatory frameworks that govern the planning, protection and management of subsea telecommunications cables. Developed by the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, the Toolkit consolidates international best practice and practical guidance drawing on examples from across the Indo-Pacific to support informed, real-world decision-making. The Best Practice Toolkit is for people working within government across the Indo-Pacific who are responsible for, or advise on, subsea telecommunications cable policy and regulation, including: policymakers and regulatorsofficials working across digital connectivity, telecommunications, infrastructure, security, and economic developmentstate-owned enterprises managing cable infrastructureThe Toolkit includes: Toolkit Overview – background information and instructions on how to use the Toolkit.Toolkit packs - 12 thematic packs, each focused on a specific aspect of subsea telecommunications cable policy or regulation, with core guidance and supplementary documents that provide additional detail, examples and context.The Toolkit Overview is available to download below, and to request access to thematic packs, please email the CCRC at undersea.cable@dfat.gov.au.

Report cover with photo of wharf and cable ship and title of report.

2026-08-13

The Role of Governments in Subsea Cable Repair: Views from the Indo-Pacific – Read more

Submarine cables carry almost all international data for the island nations of Oceania. As digital economies grow and dependence on connectivity deepens, this infrastructure is increasingly seen as a strategic asset for both socio-economic development and national security. The connectivity it provides is a public good, but the majority of the cables, and the system that repairs them are privately owned and commercially operated under maintenance agreements. Governments worldwide are asking what role they should play in ensuring cables can be reliably repaired when they fail, a question sharpened by a changing security environment and by cable fleet capacity pressures. This paper sets out what the commercial system in Oceania provides, where its limits sit, and a non-exhaustive list of options available to governments. The commercial system works under normal conditions. The great majority of cable faults are caused by fishing and anchoring and repair operators routinely service this need, usually under a maintenance agreement, at a balance of service level and cost for its customers. The interdependency between communication networks is an incentive for cooperation between competing system owners and by extension repair operators because each company's network depends on others for redundancy. There are several key factors that could disrupt current trends. The significant increase in cable kilometres planned for the region leaves an open question over whether fault numbers will rise in proportion. Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural hazards. Extreme natural disasters can create multi-fault events, and severe storm events can reduce the windows in which ships can safely operate to repair them. Hyperscaler-owned cables are now a significant and growing presence in the region, but how those owners interact with existing maintenance structures in the future is still taking shape. Two failure modes are worth separating. The first is slow repair under normal conditions when extended outages exceed what a country can absorb. Long Pacific Ocean transits cannot be designed out, but other components, including regulatory friction and fault reduction, can be addressed. The second is non-response or unavailability of a repair capability in a crisis, where the question is whether…

Cover of the research report Low Earth orbit satellites in the Pacific, showing a Pacific coastline and with the report name overlaid.

2026-04-24

Low Earth orbit satellites in the Pacific: Opportunities, risks, and governance for resilient connectivity – Read more

Low Earth orbit satellites in the Pacific: Opportunities, risks, and governance for resilient connectivity explores the role of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems in the Pacific and how they can be integrated with subsea cable infrastructure to support more resilient and inclusive connectivity.Pacific island countries are at a pivotal stage in their digital development – nearly all are now linked to international subsea telecommunication cables, establishing a critical foundation for economic growth and development. Cables will remain the backbone of high-capacity international connectivity across the region, but the emergence of LEO satellite constellations is creating new opportunities to extend coverage, strengthen redundancy and improve resilience, particularly for remote communities and outer islands that remain beyond the reach of cable infrastructure. With these opportunities also come challenges, particularly in relation to the governance and regulation of new and emerging telecommunications technologies and services.Commissioned by the Cable Connectivity & Resilience Centre, the research explores this evolving landscape, recognising that satellite and subsea cable infrastructure will increasingly need to work together. Until now, there has been limited analysis focused on the Pacific context. The research responds to that gap, providing an evidence base to support informed decision-making as countries plan the next generation of connectivity infrastructure.Drawing on financial modelling, technical analysis and consultations with the region’s governments, industry and development partners, the study provides practical insights to support Pacific governments to expand access, strengthen resilience and plan for increasingly hybrid connectivity systems.This research was launched at the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) AGM, Business Forum and Expo, in April 2026.Key findings for Pacific island countriesSubsea cables will remain the backbone of connectivity, providing the lowest-cost, long-term solution for high-capacity demand and forming the foundation of national and regional infrastructure.LEO satellites strengthen resilience and reach by enabling rapid deployment, providing redundancy, and extending connectivity to remote and underserved areas.Effective regulation enables success, with clear, proportionate and enforceable frameworks essential to integrate LEO while protecting national interests.Hybrid models deliver effective outcomes, with cable upgrades supporting long-term capacity and LEO providing flexible redundancy that is economically complementary.Regional collaboration is critical for Pacific island countries to…