Photo: AFP
More reliable and cheaper internet is on the cards for some Pacific nations following a joint United States-Australia deal that will allow Google to run undersea cables to the region.
Reuters reported last week that Canberra will contribute US$50 million and Washington is adding another US$15m for Google to lay the cables.
"President Joe Biden has also pushed for US dominance in telecommunications services, seeing the industry as a key national security issue given the control it affords over information flows worldwide," it reported.
The deal will expand an existing commercial project by Google in the region to Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
"Australia and America are supporting the connectivity of the region," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a White House news conference.
Research fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University Dr Amanda Watson told RNZ Pacific the improved internet access could make communication easier in times of emergencies.
"This announcement from the Australian government, the United States government, and…Google does present an opportunity," Dr Watson said.
Dr Watson said there were multiple Pacific Island countries with only one telecommunication company in operation.
She said the deal could offer consumers more choice.
"At present, there are some Pacific Island countries with no cable connection. Tuvalu, is an example of that, has no cable to be able to have greater access to internet bandwidth through a reliable mechanism that's usually much cheaper than satellite options
"There are other countries with only one cable, which means that there's a lack of redundancy if that cable is damaged in any way."
"It can be quite difficult in some of these countries where the users, businesses, government agencies, are relying on the internet through a satellite connection.
Cable connectivity was generally more reliable and cheaper than satellite internet, Dr Watson said.
Concerns
However, Dr Watson has questions around how Google got the job and whether there was a competitive tender process.
She said she also wanted to know if the deal would create opportunities for small local companies.
"I would really welcome any opportunities for the local enterprises to be able to have a chance to get involved," she said.
"I do have some questions about whether that is intended, whether that's happened, whether local companies have been briefed."
She said she does not think China had influenced the US and Australia to fund the project.
"There is some commentary I'm aware of that says that the United States is becoming more interested in the Pacific Islands region because of China trying to exert its influence.
"But I would argue that certainly in the case of Australia and New Zealand, if not the United States as well, these are long term partners that have been friends with these countries for a long time."