Google makes monumental investment to try and Improve Hawaii’s Internet Infrastructure
Kahului — On Monday Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, leader of Connect Kakou, Hawaii’s high-speed internet initiative, and Benji Robinson, Director of Asia Pacific Network Planning and Acquisition for Google, unveiled plans for the construction of a $1 billion project to create new fiber-optic internet subsea cables, according to a press release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
The cables will connect Hawaii with Japan, the continental U.S., the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam.
These new transpacific routes are expected to enhance internet reliability and connectivity for users in the Pacific Islands and around the world, according to the press release.
“Hawaii’s internet connectivity is reliant on three main undersea cables, and two of the cables are nearing the end of their operational lifespans. Google’s introduction of the new Taihei cable will help ensure the state has continued connectivity and enhanced bandwidth to and from Japan. The Tabua cable will help connect Hawaii with the continental U.S., Fiji and Australia, improving Hawaii’s internet connections in the South Pacific and protecting the islands from internet disruptions,” the release reads.
Google will also fund the construction of an interlink cable connecting Hawaii, the CNMI, and Guam. This interlink will connect the transpacific routes, improving their reliability and reducing latency for users, the office of the Lieutenant Governor said of the project.