East Micronesia Cable Set to Go Live by November

East Micronesia Cable set to go live by November after Kosrae landing

The long-awaited East Micronesia Cable (EMC) maarched toward completion as the final segment landed in Kosrae, marking the completion of a three-leg fiber backbone intended to interlink Micronesian islands. Jointly funded by the United States, Australia and Japan, the EMC is expected to be operational by November 2025 and aims to transform the Federated States of Micronesia’s digital future by delivering faster, more reliable and affordable internet connectivity to FSM, Kiribati and Nauru.

The Kosrae landing followed Earlier landings in Nauru on August 16 and Kiribati on July 23, with FSM officials celebrating the Kosrae installation at a Golden Buoy ceremony in Tofol on August 18. The project, spanning roughly 2,250 kilometers, runs from Tarawa in Kiribati to Nauru and continues to Kosrae, before connecting to the existing Hantru-1 (Hannon-Armstrong) cable that links Pohnpei to Guam. Once complete, EMC will provide a critical upgrade to the region’s digital backbone and will replace satellite services in the area.

In a keynote address, FSM Vice President Aren Palik pledged that the new cable system will bring “faster, more reliable and affordable internet connectivity” to FSM, Kiribati and Nauru, underscoring the belief that “technology is the future” and that embracing it is essential to prevent FSM from being left behind in the digital age.

Japan’s NEC Corp is leading the EMC project, which traces its origins to 2017 and was initially led by the World Bank together with the Asian Development Bank. The plan was mothballed in 2021 after Micronesian governments reconsidered a contract with HMN Technologies, a Chinese firm, amid security concerns raised by the United States. The revival of the EMC in 2023-2024 came as FSM, Kiribati and Nauru sought international backing from the US, Australia and Japan to fund the project.

Officials say EMC will benefit up to 100,000 people across the three Pacific nations by providing faster, more secure connectivity for education, healthcare, business and governance. The EMC System’s website states the cable is expected to be ready for service in November 2025.

Geopolitical context also colors the project. FSM is freely associated with the United States under the Compact of Free Association, while Kiribati shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019 and Nauru followed suit in January 2024. The EMC’s revival and funding commitments underscore Washington’s interest in securing reliable telecommunications infrastructure in the region, alongside regional partners’ goals of digital resilience.

The EMC complements broader regional efforts to diversify connectivity across the Pacific. In neighboring Fiji, new subsea cables such as the Bulikula and Tabua projects have landed, linking Fiji more directly to the United States, Australia, Japan and other global hubs, while Google-backed ICT facilities in Natadola are expanding terrestrial infrastructure to support these cables. Together with the Pacific VAKA cable projects in Nauru and Tuvalu, these initiatives illustrate a regional push to bolster digital infrastructure, even as debates continue about the role of satellite solutions like Starlink to augment fiber networks.

Looking ahead, the EMC represents not only a major infrastructure upgrade but also a catalyst for economic opportunity, education and governance improvements across FSM, Kiribati and Nauru. By enhancing international connectivity and reducing reliance on satellite links, the project is expected to support more robust e-government services, telemedicine, online learning, and business innovation. A hybrid approach—combining long-haul submarine cables with flexible satellite options—remains a theme in the region, aiming to ensure reliable internet access for all residents, wherever they are located.

Overall, the EMC’s completion signals a hopeful advancement for Micronesia’s digital infrastructure and regional resilience. The project’s success could accelerate development across education, health and public service sectors and help connect Micronesia more fully to the global information economy.