Australia and Google's $120 Million Internet Cables Project in Papua New Guinea

Alphabet's Google, funded by Australia under the Pukpuk Treaty, will build three subsea cables in Papua New Guinea to enhance its digital backbone. This $120 million project aligns with efforts to counter China's influence in the region and supports PNG's economic growth and education opportunities.

Alphabet's Google, supported financially by Australia under a mutual defense agreement, is set to construct three subsea cables in Papua New Guinea, aiming to improve the digital infrastructure of this Pacific Island nation. The initiative is perceived as a strategic move amid China's growing influence in the region.

The $120 million development will connect various parts of Papua New Guinea, including the Bougainville region, with high-capacity communication links, according to PNG's acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Peter Tsiamalili. The entire funding comes from Australia's commitments under the Pukpuk Treaty, a mutual defense pact recently ratified.

This project highlights the strategic cooperation between Australia and the United States to counter China's advances in the Pacific, using telecommunications infrastructure as a secure foundation for growth. By enhancing connectivity, the initiative not only lowers internet costs but also encourages investment from major digital enterprises, boosting economic and educational opportunities in Papua New Guinea.

(With inputs from agencies.)