The US, Japan, and Australia build a 5G network cable line in the South Pacific

TTO – The three countries, the US, Japan, and Australia, have announced a plan to build an undersea 5G cable to provide faster Internet access to the Pacific island nations of Micronesia, Nauru, and Kiribati.

This will support economic growth, drive development opportunities, and help improve living standards as the region recovers from the severe impacts of COVID-19,” according to a joint statement from the U.S., Japan, and Australia.

This is the latest funding commitment from Western allies in the telecommunications sector in the Pacific.

Historically, we have deep ties with the Pacific island nations. We want to avoid a situation where China controls our telecommunications networks,” Kyodo News cited a private source.

This move comes as the U.S. and its Indo-Pacific allies are concerned that cables laid by China could harm regional security. Beijing has denied any intention of using commercial fiber optic cables, which have a much larger data capacity than satellites, for espionage.

Digicel Group, an international telecommunications provider headquartered in Jamaica, will be responsible for implementing the trilateral 5G network cable development project.

In October, Australia’s Telstra is expected to acquire Digicel’s telecommunications operations in the Pacific, following reports that a Chinese company was seeking to buy it.

The Australian government will fund the largest portion of the 1.6 billion USD deal, while Japan and the United States will contribute to the operation through public-private partnerships. Kyodo News reported that Japan will provide advanced equipment for 5G.