The landing of the Hawaiki undersea fibre optic cable in American Samoa is a step towards another foundation for the local economy, the territory's governor says.
American Samoa’s governor, Lolo Moliga (left) talking with Hawaiki chief executive officer Remi Galasso before the start of the Hawaiki cable landing ceremony at Tafuna, American Samoa. Photo: RNZ Pacific /Fili Sagapolutele
The landing of the Hawaiki undersea fibre optic cable in American Samoa is a step towards another foundation for an economy that has been based on tuna canneries for more than 50 years, the territory's governor says.
The new cable, which will run from the US mainland to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, landed over the weekend in Fogagogo.
Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga said at the cable landing ceremony that it set the foundation for the future of American Samoa in terms of business and bringing the community together.
The project for the American Samoa branching unit cost close to $US30 million, the governor said
As American Samoa's canneries continued to face uncertainty, the government was forging forward with telecommunication as a way to attract new businesses, Lolo said.
The chief executive of the Hawaiki Cable Company, Remi Galasso, said the cable would be on line by July.
"The cable ship responder is going north and will connect to the first cable which has been laid between Oregon and Hawaii," Mr Galasso said.
"This is called the final splice and will happen in two weeks time. Then we need to test the system for about six weeks and it will be in service by the end of June."