Kiritimati Developments
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the Government of Kiribati (GOK) to implement a project to improve internet connectivity for Kiritimati Island in the Republic of Kiribati as part of the regional Pacific Information and Communication Technology Investment Planning and Capacity Development Facility package of funding.
The Improving Internet Connectivity in Micronesia Project
Kiritimati Spur is aligned with GOK’s development strategy for the Line and Phoenix group of islands where to date internet connectivity is completely dependent on satellite service.
The Executing Agency for the Project is Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFED). The Implementing Agency for the Project is BwebwerikiNet Limited (BNL).
Southern Cross NEXT (SX NEXT) is a new submarine cable, between Australia and USA, that has been constructed by Southern Cross Cables Limited (SCCL) with the main trunk of the cable system passing within 400km of Kiritimati Island. The Kiritimati Cable Project comprises a submarine cable spur and Branching Unit (BU) from the SX NEXT cable to Kiritimati Island of Kiribati together with associated infrastructure.
Other BNL Developments
East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS)
Through Trilateral Partner funding (Australia, Japan & USA Governments) and in cooperation with the Republic of Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Kiribati is planning for the build, implementation and operation of a submarine telecommunications cable system, the East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS).
When completed in 2025, the EMCS will connect South Tarawa in Kiribati, Nauru, and the State of Kosrae in FSM with the State of Pohnpei, FSM. From Pohnpei, there will be onward connectivity to Guam via the existing submarine cable system, the Hantru-1, through the Pohnpei segment and branching unit.
Outer Island Network & Other Developments
BNL is responsible for the operation and maintenance of passive telecommunications infrastructure for the purposes of service provision to domestic retail operators on designated outer islands, and also includes infrastructure owned by the previous incumbent.
In other related developments, the Government of Kiribati plans to build a fiber-optic backbone network through funding by the World Bank (WB). The domestic fiber optic cable network will connect all government and public sector institutions in South Tarawa and also support a trunk and associated access network enabling service provision to the private sector and retail market in South Tarawa. It is anticipated that BNL will operate and manage the passive component of the network.
