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Google is set to build three undersea cables in Papua New Guinea funded by Australia as part of a mutual defence treaty with Pacific neighbours.
The over $115 million effort will link three major regions in PNG through the high capacity cables, which Peter Tsiamalili, acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, hopes will attract further funding and investment opportunities from digital enterprises across the world.
Australia is funding the project as part of the Pukpuk Treaty, which is a mutual, bilateral agreement that seeks to strengthen both nations, specifically in the defence sector.
“Australia has committed over AU$450 million to support undersea cable connectivity across the Pacific and Timor-Leste, including the Coral Sea Cable between Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia,” an Australian foreign affairs official told Reuters.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs stated that the cables will support economic growth and increase education and employment opportunities through greater connectivity.
Australia’s investment in developing PNG’s communication system is a strategic defence move, with the Pukpuk Treaty solidifying the relationship between the nations to an official alliance.
“Building on our countries’ deep strategic trust and respect, the treaty contains mutual defence obligations. Both countries recognise an armed attack on either would be a danger to the peace and security of both and declare they would act together to meet the common danger,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an October statement on the treaty.
“The treaty explicitly refers to both Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of our neighbours.
“It provides for the expansion and modernisation of Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s defence relationship, including potential future recruitment of each countries’ citizens into respective forces.”
