Manufacture of a 3600km submarine cable primed to link up Polynesian countries has passed the halfway mark.
Photo: AFP
The Manatua fibre optic cable is to link Samoa with French Polynesia, Cook Islands and Niue
Avaroa Cable Ltd has confirmed that the cable, being manufactured in the US, is on target for completion and final testing next month.
The cable will then be loaded on the ship for delivery to the Pacific.
Cable laying will start in Apia, following completion of detailed marine survey work undertaken in June.
It will link to Niue, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, and Bora Bora.
The Rarotonga and Aitutaki landings will be the first fibre optic connectivity for the Cook Islands
Completion of the cable project is set for May next year.